Mitchell Hay and Muhammad Abbas among four new names in New Zealand central contract list for 2025-26

‌New Zealand Cricket has announced the list of players who will be part of the central contract list for 2025-26 with wicketkeeper-batter Mitchell Hay and Muhammad Abbas among the four new faces to find a place. Hay, who made his ODI and T20I debut against Sri Lanka in November 2024, impressed with an unbeaten 99 in the second ODI against Pakistan in April 2025. Meanwhile, middle-order batter Muhammad Abbas had an excellent start to his ODI career with a fifty, also against Pakistan in the first ODI of the same series.

All-rounder Zak Foulkes and 22-year-old leg spinner Adithya Ashok, who made his NZ debut in 2023 before coming back in the reckoning with a six-wicket match haul for New Zealand A against Bangladesh A last month, are also part of the 20-member list for the upcoming season.

Kane Williamson, Devon Conway, Finn Allen, Tim Seifert and Lockie Ferguson are the notable names who have not taken a contract. New Zealand Cricket revealed that discussions are ongoing around their playing arrangements with the Kiwis playing two Tests in Zimbabwe in July and hosting a three-Test series against West Indies.

"The contracts with Mitch, Muhammad, Adi and Zak reflect the incredible talent coming through our system," Scott Weenink, the NZC CEO, said. "These players have shown they can compete at the highest level, and their hunger to represent the Blackcaps is exciting. The list captures the depth and versatility of our talent pool."

The spin duo of Ish Sodhi and Ajaz Patel along with Josh Clarkson are the missing names from last year’s contract with Tim Southee also moving out after his retirement. The contract list has been finalised by a panel including head coach Gary Stead, who recently stepped down from the white-ball job.

New Zealand Men Central Contracts 2025-26

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, Will O'Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Will Young