Central Stags and Manawatū seamer Navin Patel will be missing from the New Zealand cricket circuit next summer after accepting a career opportunity in the United Kingdom.

Patel, 24, is currently playing his second off-season for Sussex premier league club Preston Nomads, and will stay on in England at its conclusion after having accepted an off-field role in investment banking and stock broking with finance firm Leumi ABL.

Born in England and raised in New Zealand, Patel is a double graduate of Victoria University with bachelor degrees in both Commerce and Science. He has represented New Zealand at an Indoor Cricket World Cup (Dubai, 2017) and gained his first professional contract with the Central Stags as a Palmerston North 21-year-old in 2016, after coming up through the CD age group system.

One of the Stags’ 16 contracted players last summer, Patel says the decision to make himself unavailable for the forthcoming season was an emotional one.

The right-armer has played 14 first-class Plunket Shield matches and eight one-day Ford Trophy matches for the Stags since his 2015/16 debut — ending his debut season by claiming his first two first-class five-wicket bags, 5-72 and 5-71, in consecutive matches. Patel showed remarkable consistency in his five-wicket hauls by equalling his career-best figures of 5-71 the following summer.

Patel also contributed to the team’s successful Plunket Shield championship campaigns in each of the last two home summers.

“I have loved every minute of representing the Central Stags, and I’d like to thank Central Districts Cricket for all they’ve given me — ever since my Under 15 days when I first represented the region as skipper.

“I am not closing the door on cricket or CD indefinitely. However, at this stage of my life I felt it was the correct decision to take up a wonderful opportunity to progress my career outside of cricket. I’m extremely proud to have contributed to the Stags over the past four seasons and I wish the team all the best for the coming season.” 

CDCA High Performance Manager Lance Hamilton said CDCA fully respected Patel’s decision to invest in his life beyond cricket.

“Nav is a high achiever on and off the field who has been offered an opportunity too good to turn down. 

“He is a great team man — one of those players with an impeccable attitude, who has always been at the ready to step up for us whenever required. 

“At 24, there is plenty of time left for him to pursue his cricket career should he desire, and our door will certainly not be closed should Nav decide to return to New Zealand and CD in the future.”

CDCA will announce its 16th and final Central Stags professional contract offer for the 2019/20 season on Monday, 1 July 2019.

NAVIN PATEL STATISTICS

Central Stags debut

First-class, Plunket Shield: December 2015 v Canterbury at Rangiora

List A, Ford Trophy: January 2017 v Wellington Firebirds at Napier

Central Stags career — bowling

Plunket Shield: 14 matches, 49 wickets at an average of 30.55, 3 x five-wicket bags, career best figures 5-71 v Auckland Aces at Napier, April 2016

Ford Trophy: 8 matches, 4 wickets at an economy rate of 5.48, career best figures 4-1-2-12 v Northern Districts at Hamilton, November 2018

Central Stags career — batting (lower order)

Plunket Shield: 14 matches, 22 innings, 220 runs at an average of 12.22, career best 47 v Otago Volts at Dunedin, March 2016

Ford Trophy: 8 matches, 7 innings, 76 runs at strike rate 62.80, career best 37 v Otago Volts at Palmerston North, January 2017

Central Stags career — bowling — season by season

Plunket Shield: 

2015/16: 6 matches, 27 wickets at 27.55, 2 x 5-wicket bags, best 5-71

2016/17: 5 matches, 16 wickets at 33.87, 1 x 5-wicket bag, best 5-71

2017/18: 2 matches, 5 wickets at 35.60, best 2-21

2018/19: 1 match, 1 wicket at 33.00, best 1-33

Ford Trophy:

2016/17: 4 matches, 1 wicket at economy 5.46, best 1-44

2018/19: 4 matches, 3 wickets at economy 4.68, best 2-12

Hawke Cup

Navin Patel played in six Hawke Cup Challenge matches for Manawatū between February 2013 and February 2015, claiming 3-22 when Manawatū lifted the Hawke Cup from Bay of Plenty at Mount Maunganui in February 2014. Patel was a key member of the team in the ensuing era as Manawatū went on to defend the Hawke Cup until midway through the following season. His late order 62 with the bat at Fitzherbert Park in March 2014 was integral to fending off Southland, and he would claim a stunning match haul of 11-70 (17-5-29-5 and 15.4-3-41-6) at the same venue the following season in a 134-run defence against Northland.

Article added: Wednesday 26 June 2019