NZC Endorses NZ20 Franchise as Domestic T20 Model

New Zealand Cricket has endorsed the proposed NZ20 franchise league as its preferred model for the country's domestic Twenty20 competition, signaling the likely end of the 21-year-old Super Smash tournament.

The decision, announced by NZC on Monday, represents an in-principle commitment to shift from the current association-based structure to a privately owned franchise system with six teams. The board's support is conditional on resolving key commercial, governance, and structural issues, including negotiations for a license and binding agreement with NZ20 organizers. While not a final approval, the move allows NZC to prioritize discussions and resource allocation toward the league's development.

Board chair Diana Puketapu-Lyndon described the choice as a pivotal step after extensive deliberations. "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," she said in a statement. The board weighed options, including integrating a New Zealand team into Australia's Big Bash League for both men's and women's competitions, but ultimately favored a homegrown initiative...