The arrangements ensure the players remain part of the Black Caps high-performance system, receiving coaching, medical and mental skills support, alongside access to gym and cricket facilities.
To be eligible for the casual playing agreement, the players were required to commit to the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup campaign, including being available for a specified number of series and games in the buildup to the tournament in India in February-March.
All players will be selectable for the Black Caps’ T20 home series against Australia, England and the West Indies, except Williamson who has made himself unavailable for the Australia series.
NZC chief executive Scott Weenink said the casual agreements made sense in a T20 World Cup year.
"With such a pinnacle event on the horizon, we wanted to ensure our best T20 players were ready and available to push for inclusion.
"The casual agreements are a commitment from the players to NZC and the Black Caps, and in return NZC will offer our full support to these players as part of our high-performance system.
"The message from the players is that playing for the Black Caps is hugely important to them and I’m pleased we’ve been able to agree terms to have them casually contracted for the coming season."
The Black Caps squad for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy T20 series will be named tomorrow. — Allied Media
