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Fleming concedes 'clock is obviously ticking' on NZ T20 future
Alex Chapman • February 27th, 2026 8:42 am
Stephen Fleming | Photo: Photosport
Former New Zealand cricket captain, Stephen Fleming concedes the clock is ticking on the looming decision over the country’s domestic T20 future.
Fleming, one of the sport’s renowned figures around the world, has been involved in various T20 franchises, most-notably with Indian Premier League powerhouse, the Chennai Super Kings.
Fleming’s also an advisor for the NZ20 competition, alongside respected sports administrator David Howman, and Players Association boss Heath Mills.
Deloitte is currently conducting a review examining various options for revitalising T20 cricket in New Zealand, including private ownership, a revamped Super Smash, and entering a New Zealand team into Australia’s BBL.
It’s understood the review won’t be an entire recommendation for the future model, rather analysis of all options presented and being discussed.
Earlier this month, members of the NZ20 consortium, and representatives of the Big Bash League and Cricket Australia presented separately to the NZ Cricket board.
It’s believed the BBL proposal is centred around one New Zealand team, based in Auckland, entering the competition in 2028.
As more details of both proposals have come to light though, it’s understood the NZC board favour the NZ20 proposal.
Though NZC denied Sport Nation's reporting that was the case.
However, a final decision is on hold while the Deloitte review continues to be conducted.
“It’s an important decision though.” Fleming told Sport Nation Mornings.
Stephen Fleming on the NZ20 decision delay | Mornings w/Ric & Chappy
“My understanding, somewhat removed from the decision making process, but my understanding is that the process is ongoing.” Fleming added.
“I don’t know what timeframe or what that process is or how it has been conducted. But given it’s a short time for it to be put in place - if it’s decided that privatising the T20 here is a good way to go - then we have to be very mindful of the time that it takes to set that up. So the clock is obviously ticking on that.
"But I also appreciate this big decision for New Zealand to be making, New Zealand Cricket to be making, and they’ll want to get it right.”
But the delay is understood to be a concern for both organisers and players, with the latter keen to secure playing futures at a time when there’s significant and numerous overseas deals in front of them.
Among those are multi-year deals in the BBL, which are more-financially lucrative than the current Super Smash model.
It’s believed, if given the option, most players would prefer to play in New Zealand under a new competition model, however the contracts would have to be comparative to those being offered during the same part of the year.
Many have indicated they wouldn’t stay, should the Super Smash remain in its current format or if a decision NZ20 isn’t made in the foreseeable future.
If a decision doesn’t come to fruition soon, as many as 10 players could end up opting for casual playing agreements, doubling the current number.
Kane Williamson, Devon Conway, Tim Seifert, Finn Allen and Lockie Ferguson are on such deals for the 2025-26 season, after declining NZC central contracts, allowing them to take up offshore T20 league deals.
It’s believed that players would prefer to be on central contracts for 2026/27 though, given the enormity of the schedule, including playing India at home, and four tests away to Australia, including the Boxing Day test.
There’s also concern that should a decision over the NZ20 not be made shortly, its market value will be greatly affected, given leading players will look at alternative options.
It’s believed possible investors are also looking at other opportunities, including at a time when privatisation is being looked at in the BBL, as well as other new competitions such the soon-to-be launched European T20 Premier League.
It’s understood that members of the NZC board, including chair Diana Puketapu-Lyndon, met with ICC officials in mid-January in Dubai to discuss a range of matters, including NZ20.
That’s in addition to a letter being written to the ICC in November to dismiss claims that a “hostile takeover” of the game was pending.
Puketapu-Lyndon, NZC’s ICC board representative Roger Twose and all of NZC’s Major Association chairs signed the letter.
Listen to the full interview below:
