'Unfortunately, it meant turning down contract': Kane Williamson reveals why he declined NZ contract

Kane Williamson recently shocked the world after it was revealed that he has let go of the white-ball captaincy for the New Zealand National Cricket Team. He decided to do so after he decided not to opt for the central contract with the Blackcaps. It is the end of an era as Williamson efficiently led the Kiwis and overpowered a lot of cricketing powerhouses. But an ICC title remained elusive from Williamson. After he made the revelation of not accepting a central offer, critics galore over the reason that Kane is prioritizing franchise cricket over national duty. As the drama escalated, Williamson offered his reasons on why he chose not to accept a BlackCaps contract while assuring that he still prioritizes national duty.

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Kane Williamson reveals the reason he denied a central contract with New Zealand Cricket, re-affirms his commitment

As Kane Williamson returned from the T20 World Cup, speculations rose upon his denial of accepting a central contract with the New Zealand Cricket Team. The white-ball skipper for NZ eventually revealed that the SA20 league was the reason for his denial. However, Kane reaffirms his commitment towards the New Zealand side.

“I want to play as long as I can. There's a number of great competitions during that time, but SA20 looks really exciting. Unfortunately, it meant turning down a central contract. My priority still is, absolutely, playing for New Zealand. Think I might miss maybe a handful of games over a three-week period.

“It's simply the contract, the rules that currently exist meant I wasn't able to have one, but in terms of playing for New Zealand, I'm not missing almost any cricket really, so that was important to me. I've really, really enjoyed my time captaining, and it's been a privilege and an honour to do that for a number of years. I'm excited with what's next for the team in terms of the leadership as well and looking forward to being part of that,” Williamson told reporters upon his arrival in New Zealand after the Blackcaps' run in the T20 World Cup.

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The SA20 takes place in the January-February window, and at the same time, NZC hosts their domestic tournament, the Super Smash. If a Blackcaps star is bound with a central contract, he is obliged to play in the tournament if they are not a part of any international assignment. This may have prompted Kane Williamson to not take up any offer from the NZC, allowing him more flexibility in his playing schedule.