New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has unveiled its central contract list for the 2025/26 season, with four players receiving their first-ever deals. Auckland’s Adithya Ashok, Wellington’s Muhammad Abbas, and Canterbury duo Zak Foulkes and Mitch Hay have been handed central contracts, marking a significant step in their international careers.
As the Black Caps undergo a generational shift, these young talents are seen as vital components of the team’s future across all formats. Their inclusion comes amid several changes, with established players Ajaz Patel, Ish Sodhi, and Josh Clarkson missing out, and an additional spot opening following Tim Southee’s recent retirement.
In contrast to last year, no players have declined contracts in favour of franchise league commitments.
The 20-player contract list is finalised through a performance-based points system that evaluates players’ contributions across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. The selection panel includes outgoing head coach Gary Stead, chief selector Sam Wells, high-performance manager Bryan Stronach, assistant coaches Jacob Oram and Luke Ronchi, and team manager Mike Sandle.
NZC CEO Scott Weenink praised the quartet, calling their inclusion a reflection of the promising talent rising through the domestic ranks.
“Mitch, Muhammad, Adi and Zak have all shown they belong at the top level,” said Weenink. “Their passion for the game and desire to represent the Black Caps is inspiring. This group represents the depth and flexibility we have in our setup, and with a busy calendar ahead, including a T20 World Cup in February, we’re excited to see them take the next step.”
New Zealand Central Contract List 2025/26:
Contracted: Muhammad Abbas, Adithya Ashok, Tom Blundell, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, William O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Will Young
Not contracted: Kane Williamson, Devon Conway, Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, Lockie Ferguson, Adam Milne, Jimmy Neesham
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