Christchurch, June 3
Wicketkeeper-batter Mitch Hay, allrounder Muhammad Abbas, pacer Zak Foulkes and leg-spinner Adi Ashok are the four new faces who have earned first-time New Zealand central contracts for the 2025-26 season.
Ish Sodhi, Ajaz Patel,Tim Southee and Josh Clarkson, all of whom were centrally contracted in 2024-25, were not offered contracts this year.
Kane Williamson, Devon Conway, Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, and Lockie Ferguson have not taken the central contracts with New Zealand Cricket, saying "discussions on their casual playing contracts" are ongoing.
Hay, a 24-year-old keeper-batsman, struck an unbeaten 99 off 78 balls to anchor New Zealand’s ODI innings against Pakistan earlier this year, and also set a world record with six dismissals in a T20I during his debut tour in Sri Lanka in November.
Twenty-one-year-old Wellington allrounder Abbas smashed a record-breaking 52 off 26 balls on his ODI debut against Pakistan in March, setting the fastest fifty on debut in men’s ODIs. He also showcased his left-arm pace bowling in the same match, claiming Mohammad Rizwan as his maiden ODI wicket.
Foulkes (22) made his T20I debut for the New Zealand against Pakistan last year, stepping in for the injured Adam Milne and impressing with his all-round skills. He made his ODI debut in November.