The former captain has turned down a central contract for the 2024/25 year
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New Zealand Cricket will "make an exception" by continuing to select Kane Williamson after the country's "greatest ever batter" turned down a central contract for 2024/25.
Williamson plans to give up captaincy of the white-ball teams, with the announcement coming days after New Zealand suffered a rare tournament failure, failing to pass through the group stages of the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup.
Williamson, who has scored north of 18,000 runs for New Zealand, has suggested he wants to spend more time with his family as well as pursue other opportunities during his home summer.
That decision would rule him out of a central contract, which insists that players are available for both international cricket and the domestic Super Smash T20 tournament.
The Super Smash, Big Bash, SA20 and ILT20 will all likely run through the start of the year.
"Helping push the team forward across the formats is something I'm very passionate about and something I want to keep contributing towards," said Williamson. "However, pursuing an overseas opportunity during the New Zealand summer means I'm unable to accept a central contract offer.
"Playing for New Zealand is something I treasure, and my desire to give back to the team remains undiminished.
"My life outside cricket has changed however - spending more time with my family and enjoying experiences with them at home or abroad is something that’s even more important to me."
Kane Williamson's side underwhelmed at the T20 World Cup (Ashley Allen/Getty Images)
NZC chief executive Scott Weenink added: "This is a good way to help keep Kane in the international game so that he continues to play a major role for the Black Caps – both now and in the years to come.
"We have very little international cricket in New Zealand through January and outside that period he's still available for the Black Caps.
"NZC has a strong preference to select centrally contracted players for the Black Caps, however we're happy to make an exception for our greatest ever batter – especially as he remains so committed to the team.
"I know it sounds a bit counterintuitive, but I'm very encouraged by this development."
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