KEY POINTS:
Auckland officials are seeking International Cricket Council approval to include Zimbabwean Colin de Grandhomme among their contracted players next summer.
De Grandhomme, who has represented Zimbabwe at under-19 level, played four championship games and two one-dayers for Auckland last season and played in Auckland a couple of years ago as well.
Auckland coach Mark O'Donnell said he was hopeful of a favourable outcome but there was no indication when they would get an answer.
"He's making New Zealand his home, has declared he wants to play for New Zealand and it's just a question of how representing Zimbabwe affects him," said O'Donnell, who rates Harare-born de Grandhomme highly.
If de Grandhomme, who turns 21 on Sunday, is ruled an overseas player, he will be ineligible for the contract and another player will pick it up.
O'Donnell said ranking the players - whose contracts kick in from October 1 and range from $24,000 down to $12,000, with match fees on top - was the hard part of settling on the 12. Some were more suited to four-day cricket, others to the one-day game.
There are four changes from last season. In come former New Zealand new-ball bowler Daryl Tuffey from Northern Districts and Andre Adams, who has lost his New Zealand contract, as well as promising batsman David Houpapa and, provisionally, de Grandhomme.
Those to miss out are Tim Lythe, who has gone to Central Districts, wicketkeeper Derek de Boorder, who has gone to Otago to take Gareth Hopkins' spot now that Hopkins has come to Auckland and is on a national contract, and Andy McKay and Carl Cachopa.
No captain has been named, although encumbent Richard Jones is favoured to retain the job.
ND have three new contractees from last summer: bowlers Tim Southee and Brent Arnel, and Brad Wilson, who replace Tuffey, former international Ian Butler and Welsh professional Alun Evans.
ND have not had discussions with their top batsman of last summer, Hamish Marshall. The former international has opted to continue his career with Gloucestershire in English county cricket and turned down a national contract last month.
Marshall can return to ND next season but only as an overseas player.
Auckland contracts
Andre Adams, Colin de Grandhomme, Martin Guptill, Paul Hitchcock, David Houpapa, Richard Jones, Tim McIntosh, Rob Nicol, Mayu Pasupati, Lance Shaw, Daryl Tuffey, Reece Young.
