Cricket-New coach says Williamson still wants to play for New Zealand

FILE PHOTO: Cricket - ICC Men's Champions Trophy - Semi Final - South Africa v New Zealand - Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Pakistan - March 5, 2025 New Zealand's Kane Williamson celebrates after reaching his century REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro/File Photo

(Reuters) -New Black Caps coach Rob Walter says Kane Williamson still wants to represent New Zealand in international cricket despite opting out of the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe.

The 34-year-old master batsman turned down a central contract with New Zealand Cricket for this season, enabling him to pick and choose his availability and take up lucrative contracts in franchise cricket.