Cricket: Patel's joy at landing CD spot

Just before Ajaz Patel went to bed after celebrating the breaking of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadhan on Thursday night, the cricketer thought he'd check his emails.

"It just blew me away. I had two celebrations on one day so it was just an amazing feeling," said the 24-year-old from Auckland after securing a 2013-14 domestic season contract with the Devon Hotel Central Districts Stags when the six major associations yesterday confirmed their added signings to their completed lists of 14 players.

"It was definitely an auspicious day and I'm very fortunate to have it fall on the day [of ending my fast]. I see it as a great symbol of prosperity," said the devout Muslim who supported CD's No 1 spinner, leggie Tarun Nethula, last summer.

The left-armer claimed 6-57 in just his third first-class career to steer CD to an 81-run victory over Canterbury Wizards in the four-day Plunket Shield match at McLean Park, Napier, in January this year.

"To be honest, I looked at the email ... and I couldn't go to sleep for about three to four hours because I was so overwhelmed by it all," Patel said.

He was aware he was in the mix for the last place with about three others but lauded CD for communicating with him throughout the process.

South African Heinrich Malan is the new CD coach for the next two seasons.

Not returning to the contracted fold this summer are retired Mathew Sinclair, Jeet Raval, Roald Badenhorst and Marty Kain.

2013-14 list

Each of the six associations offered between 11-13 contracts in the first round on July 26, with the remaining contracts offered yesterday. The two-stage process allows for increased competition and ensures the best players are contracted throughout the country:

AUCKLAND ACES:

Added: Robert O'Donnell.

Complete list: Dean Bartlett, Michael Bates, Craig Cachopa, Lockie Ferguson, Tipene Friday, Colin de Grandhomme, Donovan Grobbelaar, Gareth Hopkins, Anaru Kitchen, Tim McIntosh, Robert O'Donnell, Matt Quinn, Jeet Raval, Bhupinder Singh.

CANTERBURY WIZARDS:

Added: Simon Keen.

Complete list: Todd Astle, Hamish Bennett, Brad Cachopa, Andrew Ellis, Matthew Henry, Roneel Hira, Simon Keen, Ryan McCone, Matthew McEwan, Henry Nicholls, Rob Nicol, Shanan Stewart, Logan van Beek, George Worker.

CENTRAL DISTRICTS STAGS:

Added: Ajaz Patel.

Complete list: Carl Cachopa, Greg Hay, Jamie How, Adam Milne, Andrew Mathieson, Tarun Nethula, Kieran Noema-Barnett, Ajaz Patel, Dean Robinson, Bevan Small, Ben Smith, Kruger van Wyk, Ben Wheeler, William Young.

ND KNIGHTS:

Added: James Baker, Tony Goodin, Scott Styris.

Complete list: Graeme Aldridge, James Baker, Jono Boult, Anton Devcich, Cameron Fletcher, Daniel Flynn, Tony Goodin, Jono Hickey, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Ish Sodhi, Scott Styris, Anurag Verma, Brad Wilson.

OTAGO VOLTS:

Added: Blair Soper.

Complete list: Nick Beard, Michael Bracewell, Neil Broom, Ian Butler, Mark Craig, Derek De Boorder, Jacob Duffy, James McMillan, James Neesham, Aaron Redmond, Iain Robertson, Jesse Ryder, Blair Soper, Sam Wells.

WELLINGTON FIREBIRDS:

Added: Iain McPeake.

Complete list: Brent Arnel, Josh Brodie, James Franklin, Mark Gillespie, Andy McKay, Iain McPeake, Stephen Murdoch, Michael Papps, Jeetan Patel, Michael Pollard, Luke Ronchi, Ili Tugaga, Henry Walsh, Luke Woodcock.

2013-14 BLACK CAPS:

Contracted player list announced on July 8: Corey Anderson (ND), Trent Boult (ND), Doug Bracewell (CD Stags), Dean Brownlie (Canterbury), Grant Elliott (Wellington), Peter Fulton (Canterbury), Martin Guptill (Auckland), Tom Latham (Canterbury), Bruce Martin (Auckland), Mitchell McClenaghan (Auckland), Brendon McCullum (Otago), Nathan McCullum (Otago), Kyle Mills (Auckland), Colin Munro (Auckland), Hamish Rutherford (Otago), Tim Southee (ND), Ross Taylor (CD), Neil Wagner (Otago), BJ Watling (ND), Kane Williamson (ND).