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After turning down a central contract from New Zealand for the 2024–25 season, Kane Williamson has announced that he will be heading to the SA20 in January. However, he has also stated that there is no sign that his international career is coming to an end.
Williamson emphasised that his decision was influenced by NZC’s regulations regarding player availability, which require them to play Super Smash if they are not on international duty. He also stated that he is still dedicated to New Zealand and will not be travelling to South Africa.
Though Stuff stated there was some uncertainty surrounding his participation in the one-off Test against Afghanistan in September, it’s possible that the only international cricket matches he misses are the three ODIs and three T20Is against Sri Lanka. Prior to the Champions Trophy in February, Williamson will play the three-match home series against England, the away WTC series against Sri Lanka and India, and an ODI tour to Pakistan.
“There’s a number of great competitions on during that time, but SA20 looks really exciting,” Williamson told reporters on his return to New Zealand after the T20 World Cup. “Unfortunately, it meant turning down a central contract, however my priority still is, absolutely, playing for New Zealand. Think I 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.”
Regarding the extent of Williamson’s international career, the Dominion Post stated that he and NZC CEO Scott Weenink had talked about the 2028 T20 World Cup, which would take place in Australia and New Zealand when he would be 38 years old. Williamson maintained his modesty in public while admitting that important series and events, such the Test series in Australia in 2026–2027, were still on his mind.
“I want to play as long as I can,” he said. “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.
“In terms of a timeframe, it’s difficult to say. Want to keep being fit, doing as well as I can, keep trying to improve. That [2028] is a number of years away and it’s a year at a time. All major events and key series are things that whet the appetite and are an exciting prospect. They are down the line. Managing my time as well as I can after doing it for so many years is important and I know New Zealand Cricket are really supportive of that.”