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Kane Williamson (Source: X)
After a disappointing exit from the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, Kane Williamson has stepped down from captaincy in white-ball cricket. Moreover, he has also turned down New Zealand's central contract for the upcoming season. The 33-year-old was extremely upset with the Kiwis' elimination from the group stage in the World Cup. However, he has also clarified that he might come back as the captain in the future, but for now, he will be away from white-ball captaincy.
"Playing for New Zealand is something I treasure, and my desire to give back to the team remains undiminished. My life outside cricket has changed, however. Spending more time with my family and enjoying experiences with them at home or abroad is something that’s even more important to me," Williamson was quoted as saying by India TV.
Williamson has captained the side in 166 white-ball matches (91 ODIs and 75 T20Is) and was one of the most successful captains of the Black Caps. In the ongoing World Cup, New Zealand played four matches and won two out of them. Their loss against Afghanistan was the primary reason for their tournament elimination. Moreover, he'll be playing league matches worldwide, which will help him stay connected to the game.
Also Read: New Zealand sign off T20 World Cup 2024 campaign with convincing victory over PNG
'This is a good way to help keep Kane in the international game' - NZC CEO Scott Weenink
Support from the senior authorities is what helps the player grow from within. Hence, after the decision to leave captaincy, Kane Williamson got support from the NZC CEO Scott Weenink, who allowed him to stay away from international cricket for a while. Weenink also gave a proper explanation as to why he allowed Williamson to take such a decision.
"This is a good way to help keep Kane in the international game so that he continues to play a major role for the BLACKCAPS – both now and in the years to come. We have very little international cricket in New Zealand through January and outside that period he’s still available for the BLACKCAPS," said NZC CEO Scott Weenink.