After NZ20 replaces iconic Super Smash, New Zealand Cricket director resigns

New Zealand Cricket has taken a major step towards revamping its domestic T20 structure, backing the proposed NZ20 franchise league as a replacement for the 21-year-old Super Smash, even as a board-level resignation added another layer of intrigue to the development.

The NZC board has given in-principle approval to the NZ20 league, a six-team, privately owned franchise competition that is expected to launch by January 2027. However, the governing body clarified that the decision remains subject to key commercial, governance and structural agreements being finalised.

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“While not a final commitment, the decision allows the board to focus resources on negotiating a potential licence and binding commercial arrangement with the NZ20 organisers,” NZC said in its statement.

Board chair Diana Puketapu-Lyndon emphasised that the proposal would need to evolve further, particularly in ensuring that the women’s domestic T20 competition is fully integrated into the new structure.

“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 also highlighted the importance of regional representation and clarity around ownership and equity in the new league, indicating that NZC is keen to balance commercial ambitions with its grassroots and structural priorities.

NZC had also explored the possibility of aligning with Australia’s Big Bash League competitions for both men and women, but ultimately decided that the time was right to modernise its own domestic setup instead of merging into an existing ecosystem.

“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,” Puketapu-Lyndon added.

NZ CRICKET DIRECTOR RESIGNS

However, the announcement was quickly followed by a significant development off the field, with director Dion Nash stepping down from his position on the New Zealand Cricket board.

Nash stated that he could no longer align with the future direction of the organisation and his role within it.

“Ultimately, I reached a point where I felt it was the right time to step aside,” he said.

The timing of the resignation, coming just hours after NZC’s endorsement of the NZ20 proposal, is notable, even though Nash did not explicitly link his decision to the move. In his statement, he only said that he could no longer align with the organisation’s future direction, without elaborating further on the reasons behind his departure.

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