WELLINGTON, (Reuters) – Fast bowler Shane Bond has  been officially welcomed back to New Zealand Cricket (NZC)  after being offered a playing contract for the next  international season.

The 34-year-old paceman had been banned from national  selection after he joined the unofficial Indian Cricket League  (ICL) last year.

He was permitted to rejoin the national team after severing  ties with the ICL, and NZC wasted little time calling him back,  naming him on an elite list of 20 players awarded contracts for  the 2009-10 season.

“Shane Bond is confident he can continue to contribute to  the blackcaps,” head selector Glenn Turner said in a statement.

“He has performed well in the shorter form of the game at  domestic level while his international track record is  outstanding.”

The selectors also included six new players on their list,  fast bowlers Brent Arnel and Ian Butler, one-day specialists  Grant Elliott and Neil Broom and top order batsmen Martin  Guptill and Tim McIntosh.

The seven players who did not have their contracts renewed  from last season were Peter Fulton, Mark Gillespie, Jamie How,  James Marshall, Michael Mason, Aaron Redmond and Scott Styris.

“Some experienced players have missed out as a result of  new players forcing their way into the top 20 and that’s a good  sign for the game,” Turner said.

“Players who have missed out on contracts have the  opportunity to play their way into the blackcaps in the  domestic season, or through the A team and Emerging Players  tours, and most can expect to pick up leading contracts with  Major Associations.”