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New Zealand Signs Five to Casual Deals for 2026 T20 World Cup as Williamson Skips Australia T20Is

The flexible contracts secure availability for the World Cup by exchanging limited series commitments for freedom to play franchise cricket.

Overview

  • New Zealand Cricket confirmed casual playing agreements for Kane Williamson, Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson and Tim Seifert for the 2025–26 season.
  • All five are committed to the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka in early 2026 and to specified build-up series before the tournament.
  • The group will be available for upcoming home T20Is against Australia, England and the West Indies, with Williamson opting out of the Australia leg starting October 1 in Mount Maunganui.
  • Casual agreements keep players within NZC’s high-performance system, including coaching and medical support, while permitting participation in global T20 leagues.
  • For Williamson, Conway, Seifert and Ferguson this is a second straight casual season, while Allen has been newly offered a casual deal after previously declining a central contract.