New Zealand Cricket has put a marker down for the future of its domestic T20, picking the proposed NZ20 league ahead of the long-running Super Smash, yet stressing that nothing is signed and sealed.
“There was extensive discussion on the merits of these proposals, but the Board concluded that now’s the right time to revitalise our 21-year-old Super Smash competition,” NZC chair Diana Puketapu-Lyndon said.
Key points
• NZC board votes, in principle, to replace Super Smash with NZ20.
• Final agreement still to be negotiated; launch target remains January 2027.
• Board insists the women’s competition must sit alongside the men’s event.
• Regional bases, ownership structure and equity splits still to be thrashed out.
Why the change?
Super Smash, for all its loyal following, has struggled to match the pulling power of newer franchise tournaments. A working group led by lawyer and sports-integrity head Don MacKinnon – backed by Stephen Fleming and other former internationals – pitched NZ20 as an independently run league, operating under an NZC licence, much like the Caribbean Premier League.
Puketapu-Lyndon welcomed the broad concept but highlighted areas that need tightening. “In particular, we want to work with NZ20 to ensure it incorporates and supports the women’s domestic T20 competition, and that it maintains a level of prominence and visibility consistent with NZC’s strategic commitment to the women’s game,” she said.
She went on: “Ensuring regional representation of NZ20 teams so fans and aspiring young cricketers can see their heroes in action is also very important to the Board, as is the question of ownership and control, including equity in the competition”.
Players’ view
White Ferns captain Sophie Devine is cautiously optimistic. “I think the opportunity to build something here in New Zealand, hopefully play more games of cricket within New Zealand, is really exciting,” she said. “But equally, I mean, I’ve been involved in the Big Bash from the start so I know exactly what that tournament can bring. But at the end of the day, we’ve got to do what’s best for, I guess, the game in general.”
The board’s stance effectively rules out any immediate attempt to slot New Zealand teams into Australia’s W/BBL, an idea that had been floated to give local players stronger competition. Instead, NZC wants its own showcase, provided the women’s game gets equal airtime – double-headers, aligned branding and broadcast guarantees are all on the table.
Money and timing
Finances have not been detailed publicly, though the CPL-style model suggests private investment with revenue-sharing back to NZC and the major associations. January 2027 remains the pencilled-in start, yet a nine-month turnaround has already been called “ambitious” by several provincial bosses. Stadium availability, overseas player windows and domestic scheduling must all mesh.
“This is an exciting time for cricket in New Zealand,” Puketapu-Lyndon said “We owe it to everyone to negotiate an outcome that best serves the interests of the game here – and we’re confident we’re heading in the right direction.”
What next?
NZC officials and NZ20 backers will now hammer out a formal agreement, then seek sign-off from the six major associations. If consensus slips, the board can still revert to a refreshed Super Smash, but right now the momentum is with a clean-slate league aimed at lifting both men’s and women’s T20.
Fans will watch closely; so will broadcasters. For now, the message is clear: NZC wants a modern, marketable competition – and it wants the women’s game standing squarely beside it.
