New Zealand Cricket says protecting grassroots cricket, creating player pathways and retaining control of the domestic game drove its decision to pursue NZ20 rather than a New...
New Zealand Cricket says protecting grassroots cricket, creating player pathways and retaining control of the domestic game drove its decision to pursue NZ20 rather than a New Zealand team in Australia’s Big Bash League.
In a statement released on Wednesday, 7 October, NZC outlined the reasoning behind its unanimous board decision in March and acknowledged it should have explained the process more clearly at the time.
The proposed competition is targeting the 2027–28 season. A licensing agreement is still being worked through, and NZ20 is seeking an investment partner.
For fans, there is no immediate change: Super Smash will continue this summer.
Why NZC chose a competition based in New Zealand
NZC Board Chair Diana Puketapu-Lyndon said the board considered more than the commercial prospects of the two options.
A central factor was the proposed creation of a Community Capital Fund, financed through team sales, to support grassroots cricket over the longer term.
She said that aligned with NZC’s constitutional purpose of supporting the amateur game.
NZ20 also proposes around six teams spread across the country. NZC believes that structure would offer more opportunities for players and make the competition accessible to fans in different regions.
Another consideration was a significant ownership stake for NZC in the venture at no cost.
The board also wanted an approach that would preserve NZC’s ability to govern cricket as the sport’s international landscape changes.
These are the benefits NZC expects from the proposal, rather than outcomes already delivered.
Big Bash option received favourable commercial assessment
The alternative considered by the board was entering a New Zealand team in Australia’s Big Bash League.
Puketapu-Lyndon confirmed that Deloitte’s analysis earlier this year favoured further exploration of that option, including for its financial potential and governance arrangements.
However, she said Deloitte also encouraged NZC to continue examining both proposals and left the final assessment to the board.
NZC says the Deloitte report was one of four reports used in the decision, rather than the sole basis for choosing a direction.
The other reports examined community cricket, high performance and fan insights.
What informed the decision?
New Zealand strategic advisers In Your Corner produced separate reports on community cricket and high performance. International consultants Honoco provided fan insights, while Deloitte assessed commercial and governance matters.
According to NZC, the research included contributions from 30 to 40 community leaders, alongside current and former players, coaches and administrators.
Board members and management also attended workshops with Deloitte and In Your Corner to question and test the findings.
Puketapu-Lyndon said the views of Major Associations and professional players were important. Both supported pursuing NZ20, according to NZC.
The board ultimately voted 7–0 in favour of NZ20 as its preferred option.
Deloitte report will remain confidential
NZC says it cannot release the complete Deloitte report because it contains confidential information supplied by participants and organisations.
The statement also addressed expectations held by former New Zealand cricketers Sir Richard Hadlee and Lesley Murdoch that they would receive a copy.
According to NZC, Deloitte found no record of a commitment to provide the report, but acknowledged that both had understood they would receive one. It apologised for any lack of clarity during consultation.
NZC has instead released a summary of the report’s key findings.
Board acknowledges communication shortcomings
Puketapu-Lyndon said the board remained confident in its choice but accepted that its initial explanation was insufficient.
“People who love this game deserved to know how we made the decision,” she said.
She described the transition as the biggest change to domestic cricket in a generation and acknowledged that not everyone supported it.
NZC has committed to improving communication with staff, cricket organisations and the public as the work progresses.
What happens next?
NZC and NZ20 are working through the terms of a licensing agreement ahead of the planned 2027–28 launch.
NZ20 is also seeking an investment partner to establish the competition.
Those steps remain important to turning the proposal into a functioning league. The statement does not provide confirmed team locations, ownership details or a playing schedule.
For now, NZC’s announcement explains why it chose NZ20. The next stage is establishing the agreements and investment needed to deliver it, while Super Smash continues this summer.
Source: New Zealand Cricket statement and NZ20 Decision Fact Sheet, 7 October 2026.
