New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has announced its central contracts list for the 2025–26 season, introducing four new players — Mitchell Hay, Muhammad Abbas, Zak Foulkes, and Adithya Ashok — all of whom made notable white-ball contributions in the past year.
Veterans Kane Williamson, Devon Conway, Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, and Lockie Ferguson have not taken central contracts, with ongoing discussions about their playing arrangements.
Rising stars step in as veterans step out
- Mitchell Hay impressed with an unbeaten 99 against Pakistan in ODIs.
- Muhammad Abbas stunned with a 24-ball half-century on debut — the fastest by a New Zealander in ODIs.
- Zak Foulkes debuted in ODIs vs Sri Lanka and has already featured in 10 T20Is.
- Adi Ashok, a leg-spinner, returned to the national scene after shining in the New Zealand A tour of Bangladesh.
In contrast, Ish Sodhi, Ajaz Patel, and Josh Clarkson have been dropped, while Tim Southee has retired from international cricket.
NZ looks to build with eye on T20 World Cup 2026
With a relatively light Test schedule ahead, the focus is expected to shift towards white-ball cricket, especially with the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka looming in 2026.
NZC CEO Scott Weenink said the new selections show the depth and hunger in New Zealand’s talent pool. “These players have shown they can compete at the highest level,” he noted.
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