New Zealand Cricket surprised by the inclusion of Colin de Grandhomme in BBL's draft



image-l7ekfblwGrandhomme is contracted with NZC (PC- Twitter)

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) on Monday (August 29) said the board was shocked with the selection of Colin de Grandhomme in the Big Bash League draft.

On Sunday (August 28), Strikers swooped on the Zimbabwean-born New Zealand cricketer with pick 13 in the second round of the inaugural draft of the high-profile Australian domestic Twenty 20 men’s cricket competition.

De Grandhomme, who is yet to feature in the BBL is one of the twenty centrally-contracted players with New Zealand Cricket, he wasn’t expected to be eligible for the draft, unlike non-contracted team-mates Trent Boult and Jimmy Neesham. Still, he chose to draft his name in the first-ever BBL draft conducted on Sunday and got picked by Adelaide Strikers.

NZC in talks with Grandhomme

image-l7el66v9de Grandhomme is a crucial player for the Kiwis

New Zealand Cricket Players’ Association chief executive Heath Mills said it was a shock to de Grandhomme too when he got selected in the international player draft.

“I think it would be fair to say he was pleasantly surprised that he was picked up, and wasn’t expecting it. It’s important to point out that Colin is a NZC contracted player – no player can unilaterally decide to terminate their playing agreement and he’s certainly not saying that at the moment. 

We’ve got to work through with Colin and New Zealand Cricket where things sit with him. We’re just talking through all the implications for him," Heath Mills said on Monday afternoon.

The 36-year-old has featured regularly for the Kiwis across all three formats as a hard-hitting right-handed batter and medium-pace bowler.

While selected by the Strikers, it’s understood de Grandhomme is not yet signed by the franchise as he is still contracted with NZC.


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