Kane Williamson again turns down central contract with New Zealand Cricket
Wellington (AP): Ex-captain Kane Williamson has again rejected a central contract with New Zealand Cricket and likely will miss the Black Caps two test tour to Zimbabwe next month.
Williamson also decided not to accept a central contract last year, to leave himself free to play in Twenty20 and other leagues around the world. He instead signed a casual contract last year and still played in nine of New Zealand's 13 tests in 2024, scoring more than 1,000 runs.
Williamson was absent from the list of 20 contracted players released by New Zealand Cricket on Tuesday, along with Devon Conway, Finn Allen, Tim Seifert and Lockie Ferguson who also are playing in T20 leagues overseas. He is expected again to sign a casual contract.
Allrounders Muhammad Abbas and Zak Foulkes, wicketkeeper Mitch Hay and spinner Adi Ashok are contracted for the first time in the absence of Tim Southee, who has retired, Ish Sodhi, Ajaz Patel and Josh Clarkson.
Williamson currently is playing for Middlesex in the English County Championship and T20 Blast and for the London Spirit in The Hundred. He is expected to have county commitments while New Zealand plays Zimbabwe in late July and early August.
In a news conference in London last month, Williamson said that his future on a casual contract is “just a work in progress and New Zealand Cricket have been great with working with that and I've been fortunate throughout.”
The 20 contracted players were ranked on domestic and international performances over the past year.
“The contracts with Mitch, Muhammad, Adi and Zak reflect the incredible talent coming through our system,” New Zealand Cricket chief executive Scott Weenink said.
“These players have shown they can compete at the highest level and their hunger to represent the Black Caps is exciting. We're thrilled to see this group drive our team forward.”
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2 sisters die on their wedding day in Jodhpur; suicide suspected
Jodhpur (PTI): A household which was preparing for the wedding festivities of their two daughters was plunged into sadness when the sisters died the same day in Jodhpur's Manai village, with officials saying both women allegedly consumed a poisonous substance.
Shobha (25) and Vimla (23) were set to be married on Saturday, and the preparations for their weddings were in full swing on Friday night, when the incident occurred.
Upon finding the sisters, family members rushed the sisters to a private hospital in Jodhpur, where doctors declared both women dead.
ADCP (West) Roshan Meena said the wedding celebrations at their home continued until late Friday night. Around midnight, both brides went to sleep.
"At about 4 am, their health suddenly deteriorated, prompting family members to take them to a private hospital. They were declared dead on arrival, and their bodies were brought back home, where funeral preparations began," he stated.
When police received this information, they arrived at the scene and halted the funeral arrangements. The bodies were sent to the mortuary for a post-mortem examination and were later returned to the family, officials said.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the sisters may have died after consuming a poisonous substance; however, the exact cause of death will be confirmed after the post-mortem report is completed.
So far, no suicide note has been recovered from the scene.
