Williamson Out as New Zealand Announces New Central Contract List

New Zealand Cricket has announced the new central contract list for the 2025–26 season, featuring four new names. Mitch Hay, Muhammad Abbas, Zak Foulkes, and Adi Ashok have all received their first senior contracts after impressive performances in the domestic circuit over the past 12 months. The quartet is likely to be included in the squad for the upcoming Zimbabwe tour, which will be followed by home series against England and South Africa. Among the players to receive their first national contract is Pakistan-born Muhammad Abbas. The all-rounder made a strong impression against Pakistan earlier this year, scoring the fastest ODI half-century on debut (52 off 26 balls). He also claimed his first ODI wicket in that match — that of Pakistan’s skipper, Mohammad Rizwan. Foulkes, a pace bowler, made both his ODI and T20I debuts last year, while leg-spinner Adi Ashok returned to the ODI squad in early 2025 and has now been awarded a central contract. Mitchell Hay, the wicket-keeper batter, is the only establish