Five Black Caps handed casual playing agreements

Kane Williamson is among an expanded group of five Black Caps handed casual playing contracts with New Zealand Cricket.

Williamson, Devon Conway, Tim Seifert, Finn Allen and Lockie Ferguson have all agreed to terms for the 2025-26 season, after declining NZC central contracts, allowing them to take up offshore T20 league deals.

Last year, Williamson and Conway became the first players to take up the casual contracts, which ensure they remain part of the Black Caps high-performance system, receiving coaching, medical and mental skills support, alongside access to facilities.

NZC chief executive Scott Weenink said to be eligible for the deal, the players were required to commit themselves to New Zealand's T20 World Cup campaign early next year, as well as be available for a specified number of series and games in the build-up.

Weenink said the casual agreements made sense in a T20 World Cup year.

"With such a pinnacle event on the horizon we wanted to ensure our best T20 players were ready and available to push for inclusion," he said.

"The message from the players is that playing for the Black Caps is hugely important to them and I'm pleased we've been able to agree terms to have them casually contracted for the coming season."

The five players on casual agreements will be selectable for New Zealand's looming T20 home series against Australia, England and the West Indies.

The exception is Williamson, who has made himself unavailable for the Australia series.

Coach Rob Walter will name his squad to face Australia on Wednesday.

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