Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Olympics
Football
Netball
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Full Noise by SN
The Live Sport Bible is here!‘Logical start time’: Don Mackinnon weighs in on revised NZ20 launch date
Savannah Lendich Jonkers • May 11th, 2026 4:11 pm
Don Mackinnon | Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
NZ20 Official Committee Chair Don Mackinnon said a number of factors were taken into consideration when deciding to delay the start of the new series and the decision was made collectively with New Zealand Cricket.
“With so many other things we need to get done between now and then, and to compromise the whole competition in its very first year, we just sat down with NZC and very much jointly agreed the logic was to go with the following summer." Mackinnon told Sport Nation Mornings
“And I must admit it's a bit of a relief because we've been working so hard to try and drive this through and it's just not the smart thing to do.”
He said the first consideration was the challenge of scheduling around other events, having earlier agreed with NZC that the competition wouldn’t clash with Test cricket.
However an important Test series with the Blackcaps against Australia finishes on January 8 and a Sri Lankan tour commencing early February, it leaves only a 21-23 day window for a 4-week competition.
Mackinnon, who lives in Auckland also acknowledged extra time will help to secure a cricket venue in the city, saying the committee expects at least one team will be based in Auckland.
“I know Eden Park wants to be able to host white ball cricket, it gives them a little bit more time, and also gives the Colin Maiden development more time.
“The key for us around locations, we want a geographic spread and we want to be particularly in January and in December for that matter, we wanna be where the population are so that there is really a high level of fan engagement.
“I think that little bit of extra time is probably good for this city in particular.”
Sumo on why NZ20 was the only genuine option for NZ Cricket | Scotty & Izzy
He also said while the committee and NZC are still confident with investment, the war in the Middle East has also been taken into consideration.
He said there has been worldwide interest for investment and the committee would be “nuts” to not welcome great amounts of Indian investment.
“I think it's 1.4 billion people in India and I think 1.3 billion seem to follow cricket, so it would be crazy not to look at that.”
However, he acknowledged the committee and NZC are currently working on a model that ensures private investment from New Zealand, as well as international investment in the competition.
“So whether that's for example 20% of the ownership needs to be local or 33% or a number like that, that's what we're working through at the moment.
“We very much want Kiwis to be invested, not just at fan level but also at ownership level and as I said, a little bit more time does no harm in nailing those final details.”
Mackinnon said he is confident there is a bigger window for the competition to commence with women in December 2027 and men in January 2028.
“NZC is really keen to give us a clear window as often as they can and that's another reason why just January 28, December 27 is a logical start time.”
Listen to the full interview below:
