Williamson relinquishes captaincy Having already stepped down from the captaincy role in the Test format, Williamson stepped down from his role in both T20I and ODI cricket on Wednesday (June 19). Williamson's decision comes after his side was reported to have landed back in New Zealand after enduring a tough period in the T20 World Cup where their defeats to Afghanistan and the West Indies saw them miss out on Super 8 qualification. "Helping push the team forward across the formats is something I'm very passionate about and something I want to keep contributing towards," Williamson said in a New Zealand Cricket (NZC) release. "However, pursuing an overseas opportunity during the New Zealand summer means I'm unable to accept a central contract offer." Despite opting not to take the central contract for the 2024-25 season, where New Zealand will play little cricket on home turf, Williamson has committed his desire to remain available for the side. He is also open to a future contract from the board with the World Test Championship (WTC) and Champions Trophy on the horizon in 2025. "Playing for New Zealand is something I treasure, and my desire to give back to the team remains undiminished," he said. "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." Alongside Williamson, speedster Lockie Ferguson has also denied taking a central contract for the 2024-25 season. He signed off from the T20 World Cup with an impressive showing against Papua New Guinea with figures of 4-4-0-3 on Monday.