These initiatives are part of commitments by the local firms to support the UAE community in times of crisis
Nathan McCullum, Andy McKay, B.J. Watling and Kane Williamson have replaced Neil Broom, Ian Butler, Daniel Flynn and James Franklin.
Allrounder Scott Styris also returns after missing a contract last year and replaces the now retired Shane Bond while Daryl Tuffey remained on the list after being reinstated following Iain O’Brien’s mid-season retirement.
“Nathan, Andy and BJ have all made important contributions to New Zealand teams over the past 12 months without having central contracts,” national selection panel spokesman Mark Greatbatch said in a statement.
“They have now earned their positions within the contracted players list.
“Kane Williamson is a young player whose pedigree is impeccable in terms of cricket development and we are now confident that he can step into the international arena and further advance his game”.
New Zealand players are ranked by the selectors against set criteria in respect of Test cricket, one-day and Twenty20 internationals and the top 20 are offered contracts.
Greatbatch said players who missed out on contracts can still play their way into the New Zealand side through their performances in the domestic cricket competition.
Contracted players: Brent Arnel, Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Gareth Hopkins, Chris Martin, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Tim McIntosh, Andy McKay, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor, Daryl Tuffey, Daniel Vettori, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson.
These initiatives are part of commitments by the local firms to support the UAE community in times of crisis
Though some employers were considerate enough to allow employees to work from home, some have asked staff to report to work now
It is a tale of love and dedication scripted in the heart of Abu Dhabi
The event brought together key players in the polo community to celebrate a successful season and honour outstanding achievements
In the first two days after the torrential rain on Tuesday, around 1,244 flights were cancelled
There has been fear that decades of enmity between the two could spill over into all-out war
The leading hypermarket chain has implemented additional measures to ensure sufficient stock availability for shoppers
Thousands of personnel deployed to clear accumulated water, clogged drains, and fallen trees