New Zealand Face Club vs Country Dilemma As Top Players Opt Out Of Central Contracts

New Zealand cricket is increasingly grappling with the club vs country dilemma, as more high-profile players choose to opt out of central contracts. With the team gearing up for a challenging stretch of nine Test matches in the coming months, Test captain Tim Southee has acknowledged the issue, attributing it to the "changing landscape of international cricket." Southee expressed optimism that cricket boards and franchise leagues could find a way to "work together" to address the situation.

As New Zealand prepares to head to India for a one-off Test against Afghanistan in Greater Noida, he mentioned that his country's cricket board is "working hard to find the best solution for both sides."

"There are plenty of offers out there that weren't around years ago," Southee said as per quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

"But yeah, at the moment it's concentrate on playing for New Zealand and giving that everything at the moment," he added.

"We've seen a number of guys who haven't taken contracts, guys that are sitting on this plane with guys with contracts," he said.

In recent months, several key players, including Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson, and Adam Milne, have declined central contracts.

Among them, Williamson remains part of the squad for the upcoming Test against Afghanistan. This Test marks the beginning of a series of six matches in the subcontinent, with two more Tests in Sri Lanka and another two in India to follow. After these overseas fixtures, New Zealand will return home to host England in November-December.

"If you look at it as a whole - six Test matches in the subcontinent - it's exciting," he said as per quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

"It's probably something we haven't done, in my time anyway. It's a great