New Zealand Cricket has chosen the proposed NZ20 franchise league as its preferred future domestic T20 competition, replacing the long-running Super Smash, officials said on Monday.
The decision is not final, but it means the organisation will now work more closely on plans for the new league.
NZ Cricket said the change still depends on important talks about money, structure and how the competition would be run. The NZ20 idea was also supported by the New Zealand Cricket Players’ Association and the country’s six Major Associations. Board chair Diana Puketapu-Lyndon said it was the right time to refresh the 21-year-old Super Smash competition. She said the board had looked carefully at advice and reports before making its in-principle decision.
The new league hopes to bring in overseas investment for its franchises. NZ Cricket also wants to make sure the women’s domestic T20 competition is included and remains highly visible. Another key issue is regional representation, so supporters around the country can still watch top players close to home. The board also wants clear agreements about who owns and controls the new competition.
Puketapu-Lyndon said New Zealand cricket has strong international value, helped by the recent success of the Black Caps and White Ferns. She called it an exciting time for the sport and said the aim was to find the best outcome for cricket in New Zealand.
