Williamson steps down as Black Caps’ white-ball captain

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) announced on Wednesday that Kane Williamson has relinquished the captaincy of the national Twenty20 and one-day international teams, following the team’s disappointing group stage exit at the recent T20 World Cup.
The 33-year-old batsman has also declined a central contract for the upcoming 2024/25 season. This move frees him to pursue lucrative opportunities in overseas leagues.
“Pursuing an overseas opportunity during the New Zealand summer means I’m unable to accept a central contract offer,” Williamson explained in a statement. However, he emphasized his continued commitment to Test cricket, as the Black Caps have a busy schedule featuring matches against Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, India, and England later this year.
Williamson assured fans that his decision doesn’t signify a waning interest in international cricket. “Playing for New Zealand is something I treasure and my desire to give back to the team remains undiminished,” he said.
Prior to this, Williamson led New Zealand across all three formats. He stepped down from Test captaincy in late 2022, handing the reins to fast bowler Tim Southee. Since his debut in 2010, Williamson has amassed an impressive record, featuring in 100 Tests, 165 ODIs, and 93 T20 internationals for the Black Caps.