New Zealand news - Sophie Devine 'leans towards NZ20' given it supports the women's game

"It's looking hopefully likely, having a New Zealand tournament and that's pretty exciting," says Lockie Ferguson

Alagappan Muthu

Published: Mar 20, 2026, 9:23 AM (4 hrs ago)

New Zealand are on the brink of a massive change, with New Zealand Cricket exploring the possibility of launching its own franchise T20 league - NZ20 - or supplying a team that plays in future editions of the Big Bash League. T20 World Cup-winning captain Sophie Devine has thrown her weight behind the NZ20 competition.

The Super Smash is the only 20-over tournament that is played in New Zealand, although their players are in high demand in leagues around the world. Virtually the entire Black Caps first XI will be at the IPL and the PSL, making them unavailable for the men's white-ball tour of Bangladesh which takes place between April 17 and May 2. This is how the NZC has been juggling the players' interests - allowing them a chance to expand their skills and maximise their earning potential even if it means missing some international assignments - and the teams' interests.

Following the White Ferns' victory over South Africa in the third women's T20I in Auckland on Friday, Devine, who has played T20 cricket all over the world, was asked what she would prefer, a New Zealand team in the BBL and WBBL - which, reports said, former NZC chief executive Scott Weenink was working on - or the NZ20, a concept which is still in its nascent stages but continues to receive player support.

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"Where I lean towards is the women's game here in New Zealand and whatever that looks like," Devine said, "Whether that is a team in the Big Bash, whether that's the NZ20, we've got to make sure that we're supporting the women's game and that they're playing more games of cricket.

"I've been really fortunate to have played around the world, [for] different franchises, have played a lot in Australia (143 WBBL games) and the thing that stands out is how well they're supported at their home boards and the opportunities that they've got to play competitive cricket. If anything, I probably do lean towards the NZ20."

Men's Test captain Tom Latham had given the NZ20 his backing in December 2025.

But there is both friction and uncertainty within New Zealand cricket circles as a result of the developments. Weenink resigned as board CEO in December last year citing differences with other stakeholders about the future of cricket in the country.

The NZC has reportedly requested an independent audit of the two options it has on the table - conducting the NZ20 or joining the established BBL. NZC already has a stake in Major League Cricket in the USA and is set to co-own a team as the competition prepares to expand.

"As players, it would certainly give them a platform to show their skillset. I think players get opportunities overseas off their home competitions. It's looking hopefully likely, having a New Zealand tournament and that's pretty exciting"

Lockie Ferguson

"I think the opportunity to build something here in New Zealand, hopefully play more games of cricket within New Zealand, is really exciting," Devine 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.

"But obviously for me, I've obviously got a vested interest in the women's game and making sure that we don't let that slide whatever decision is made. We need to make sure that there's competitive cricket and enough of it as well. I think that would be the biggest concern for me, if the women's domestic game is losing games of cricket.

"So, yeah, I don't really care what happens as long as there's good competitive cricket that's going to keep continuing to build the White Ferns but also get more people involved in the game."

The NZ20 organisers had hoped to get the men's tournament underway in January 2027 and a women's tournament by December of the same year but it does not have NZC's approval just yet and is also yet to secure the private investors it is seeking.

On the eve of the third men's T20I between New Zealand and South Africa, Lockie Ferguson was asked about the potential benefits of the NZ20.

"I think from a franchise point of view, it's exciting," he said. "It feels like we have no tournament in terms of franchise private league and other countries do. So as players it would certainly give them a platform to show their skillset. I think players get opportunities overseas off their home competitions. It's looking hopefully likely, having a New Zealand tournament, and that's pretty exciting.

Ferguson ruled out any notion of the players taking matters into their own hands. "Look, I think that's pretty excessive considering the position that it's [NZ20] at, at the moment. I think probably more worrying than a strike is players going overseas and playing other leagues rather than harnessing that talent and giving an opportunity for our New Zealand cricketers to do something in New Zealand and also bring international talent here and let them experience New Zealand but also the standard of cricket here is very strong in our country. So it's an exciting period, again, but above my pay grade I guess as to what would exactly happen."

Alagappan Muthu is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo

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