Currently, the Super Smash is the only T20 league organized by New Zealand, and its status is very neglected, as it does not attract international stars and is limited to only Kiwi players. Don MacKinnon, the current head of the NZ20 committee, believes that T20 cricket in New Zealand should go beyond just Super Smash.
T20 cricket in New Zealand is finally set to bring about a revolution as they are about to enter the world of privately owned T20 leagues. The league’s operating model could be something like the CPL, where the tournament would be licensed by New Zealand Cricket but independently managed.
In a recent conversation with ESPNcricinfo, MacKinnon revealed that NZ20 is a highly viable project and suggested that the idea came from a number of famous faces in NZ cricket. He also believes this would be the ideal time to launch.
New Zealand is planning to enter the world of private T20 leagues
The NZ20 plan has not yet received the green signal from New Zealand Cricket, but once given the green signal, it is likely to replace the Super Smash. NZ20 founding committee head Don MacKinnon believes the 6-team tournament Super Smash will no longer work.
Already in 2014, the NZC board had rejected the idea of a domestic league as they believed it would have difficulty competing with teams like the IPL and BBL. However, McKinnon says now is the time for New Zealand to create their own brand of T20 cricket.
He noted that Super Smash is no longer effective in drawing crowds and has become more of a “development” competition for players.
“What’s different about it? Well, it’s partly driven by private investment, and so you get the ability to be very innovative. You have the ability to have more capital, invest in a better fan experience, not just on the field but whether you’re watching on television or online. We also think that if we get this right, we will attract New Zealand’s best players back to our domestic competitions,” said MacKinnon, who believes it has the power to revitalize fans for domestic cricket in New Zealand.
NZ20 chief explains NZ20 league was a viable project run by Stephen Fleming
The concept of private leagues originated from great stars like Stephen Fleming, who believed that the time had come for the country to look for a franchise-based league.
However, for the project to continue successfully, NZC approval will be required, and a decision will have to be made very quickly for the league to be inaugurated in January 2027.
“We have been in ongoing discussions with the New Zealand Cricket Board over the last two to three months. They have been great to deal with. They have been very clear to us that although they are excited by the project, they also have other options that they are considering, including obviously whether they want to consider trying to bring a team into the Big Bash,” McKinnon claimed, adding that NZC has confirmed they are considering various options.
McKinnon did not say whether IPL franchise owners have shown interest in the league or not
As McKinnon revealed, the biggest challenge will be to find a clear window so that it does not clash with the BBL, IPL, SA20 or even the ILT20, as many players from his country are involved in participating in these leagues.
“We appreciate that we will not be able to attract everyone we would have liked, but the response from current New Zealand players is that they want this tournament to go ahead and will do everything they can to take part,” MacKinnon said. He believed that New Zealand players were eager to participate.
One question remains: whether the IPL franchise owners, who now reportedly have franchises in The Hundred, SA20, MLC, CPL and perhaps even the BBL, have shown interest in investing in a T20 league in New Zealand.
He added, “We’ve also looked closely at some of the models around the world, and particularly the CPL, where the league owners and teams have done a great job of taking that competition to not only a level of profitability, but also really driving fan interest. So that’s one of the models we’re looking at very closely. But by no means the only model.”
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