New Zealand Cricket Archives

New Zealand Cricket joins hands with MLC in historic US franchise deal

New Zealand Cricket (NZC), in a landmark move that could reshape cricket’s global footprint, has announced the launch of its own franchise in the United States’ Major League Cricket (MLC), set to debut in the 2027 season.

The development follows an agreement between NZC and US-based True North Sports Ventures (TNS), a key player in promoting the sport across North America.

The deal will see NZC offering high-performance and operational support, including coaching, management, and support staff, while integrating the new franchise into New Zealand’s domestic high-performance structure.

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NZC chief executive Scott Weenink termed the partnership a strategic leap forward, positioning New Zealand at the heart of the global evolution of cricket while tapping into the lucrative US sports market.

“This agreement marks a unique and exciting milestone for NZC,” said Weenink. “As franchise cricket grows globally, NZC needs to adapt to seize strategic opportunities that ensure the sustainability of our cricket network.”

He emphasised that the collaboration will not only diversify NZC’s revenue streams and expand its international brand presence but also open fresh pathways for talent development and retention, both for players and coaches.

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True North Sports Ventures, too, sounded upbeat about the venture.

“The potential for cricket in North America is immense,” a TNS statement read. “We look forward to working with NZC to deliver on both our ambitions and theirs, including broader strategic and corporate opportunities globally.”

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Fleming, Bell to join New Zealand coaching staff ahead of England series

Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming is set to join the New Zealand coaching staff, along with former England players Ian Bell and James Foster, prior to New Zealand’s white-ball series against England.

Fleming will join the coaching staff for the four-match ODI series against England, while Bell will be New Zealand’s assistant coach for the T20I series in England. He will then switch to the role of batting coach for the ODI series against England, as well as Bangladesh.

“I think Flem [Fleming] will be great for players on that side of it and also good for the staff as well,” New Zealand head coach Gary Stead said. “He’s got [an] immense amount of knowledge in that part of the world [India] and has coached in the IPL right from the start of the competition [from 2009], so he’s coached in all those areas where we’re going to play in. So, it might just be the little one-two percenters you can get from that information that could tip the results on your side as well. If things go well you can pick up on some of those small things.”

They will be joined by former English wicketkeeper James Foster, who played seven Tests for England.

Foster will be Black Caps assistant coach for the England ODI series and the 50-overs World Cup in India, which starts this October.

“James spent a week with us in the UAE, think about four or five years ago when he was over there,” Gary Stead said. “He might have even been playing at the time. But it’s great that he has come back. He will come to the World Cup; he’s got a lot of experience in the IPL with the KKR side and in an assistant coach role there he’s worked with video analysts, so will give us a lot of, I think, information and knowledge for us to consider when we approach all the different venues in the World Cup.”

New Zealand performance manager Simon Insley said the backroom changes will spread the workload among the coaching staff.

“The well-being of our players and staff is of vital importance with the sheer amount of cricket being played these days,” Insley said.

“Following the T20 team’s departure to the UAE (Aug 12), the team will be on the road right through until December 16 when the Test team returns, ahead of a busy home summer,” he added.

He also shared his ‘delight’ in the abilities of New Zealand’s coaching staff which will help boost the team’s morale and performance in the upcoming tours.

“We’re delighted with the calibre of coaches we’ve been able to confirm to assist the Black Caps,” he added.

“Ian Bell has had a broad range of experiences as batting coach since retiring,” Insley said. “James Foster has worked with a number of our Black Caps through his extensive coaching history.”

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‘Security in Pakistan is fantastic’: NZC Chief Executive White

KARACHI: The Chief Executive of New Zealand Cricket (NZC) David White reviewed New Zealand’s historic tour to Pakistan and expressed his satisfaction towards the security in the country.

In a video statement, released by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), White coined the Pakistan tour a good one and also shared that there are no security concerns among the players.

“It [New Zealand’s tour of Pakistan] is being great and we’ve been very well looked after and the security has been fantastic and the cricket has been amazing as well so we are having a great time,” said White.

“They [New Zealand players] are enjoying the hospitality, the quality of cricket and they are having a great time and feeling very safe and secure,” he added.

New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White reflects on the tour of Pakistan and looks ahead to more bilateral cricket in the future.@BLACKCAPS #PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/l1ce5Nps6K

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) January 12, 2023

The NZC Chief Executive also revealed that their cricket governing body was in contact with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket Australia (CA) and toured Pakistan with a lot of confidence as the earlier two tours went great.

“We have the same security provided as England which is excellent. So, we had a lot of contact with England and Australia and of course, other teams had toured here so we came with a lot of confidence and we’re enjoying the tour,” White stated.

White then asserted that the two cricket boards have always had a close working relationship and also shared the history of both nations becoming a member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) simultaneously.

“We’ve always had a very close working relationship with Pakistan. I think we became full members of the ICC at the same time. The teams get on really well and compete hard on the field and of course, we’ve had some great pictures of the years so, we couldn’t be happier,” White concluded.

It is pertinent to mention that New Zealand are currently on a tour to Pakistan to play a two-match Test and three-match ODI series.

The historic Test series between the two sides ended in a 0-0 draw, while the ongoing ODI series is currently levelled at 1-1 with the final fixture due to be played on January 13 here.

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‘Commitment to leagues’ Neesham declines NZC central contract

AUCKLAND: New Zealand all-rounder Jimmy Neesham declined the central contract offered by the New Zealand Cricket (NZC) due to his commitments with the franchise leagues around the world.

Neesham was extended a fresh offer from NZC after being dropped from the central contract list in July.

“I know the news of my decision to decline a central contract today will be seen as me choosing money over representing my country,” Neesham wrote on his Instagram stories.

The 31-year-old justified his stance by saying that since he was not offered a contract earlier this year, he went on with committing to the t20 leagues and now he wanted to uphold those agreements.

“I had planned to accept a contract offer in July, however since being left off the list I have committed to other leagues around the world. It was a difficult decision but I have decided to honour those commitments rather than go back on my word to re-sign with NZ Cricket,” he said.

“Playing for the [Blackcaps] has been the greatest honour of my career and I remain committed to taking the field with my countrymen for the foreseeable future, especially in pinnacle world events,” he added.

Meanwhile, fast bowler Blair Tickner and opening batter Finn Allen accepted the central contracts for the 2022-23 season, filling the positions left by Trent Boult and Colin De Grandhomme on the list, announced NZC on Friday.

Tickner has represented Black Caps in six ODIs and 11 T20Is, while Allen has played eight ODIs and 13 T20Is.

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NZC removes Boult from central contract to focus on family, T20 leagues

CHRISTCHURCH: New Zealand Cricket (NZC) on Wednesday agreed to release Trent Boult from the central contract upon his request as the left-arm pacer wants to spend more time with his family and make himself available for franchise cricket.

Boult’s international career is likely to take a toll by the decision as NZC prefers the centrally contracted players for the selection in the national team, however, the board will not overlook the pacer for the upcoming T20 world cup in Australia.

“We’ve had several conversations and I know Trent understands that, in terms of selection, NZC will continue to make a priority of those players with either central or domestic contracts,” said NZC chief executive David White according to a statement released by NZC.

NZC chief said the left-arm pacer had made it clear during conversations with the board that his desire for travelling had diminished and that he wanted more time for his family.

The 33-year-old, who has been a vital part of Blackcaps over the last decade and is currently the top-ranked ODI bowler, said the decision had been tough for him.

“Playing cricket for my country was a childhood dream and I’m so proud of everything I’ve been able to achieve with the BLACKCAPS over the past 12 years,” he said

“Ultimately this decision is about my wife Gert and our three young boys. Family has always been the biggest motivator for me and I feel comfortable with putting it first and preparing ourselves for life after cricket.”

While Boult was aware that his decision would have an impact on his international career, he believed the time had come to move on to the next phase.

“I still have a big desire to represent my country and feel I have the skills to deliver at the international level,” he said. “However, I respect the fact that not having a national contract will affect my chances of selection.”

Having said that, as a fast bowler I know I have a limited career span, and I feel the time is right to move into this next phase.” he concluded.

Reportedly, Boult’s participation in one of the new T20 leagues, either the UAE or South Africa, will be announced soon.

It is pertinent to mention here that the speedster has represented Black Caps in the 78 Tests, 93 ODIs and 44 Tests while taking an overall 548 international wickets so far including 317 scalps in the red-ball cricket

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New Zealand sign historic ‘equal pay’ deal for male and female cricketers

CHRISTCHURCH: New Zealand Cricket (NZC) signed a landmark deal on Tuesday with players’ associations to pay professional male and female cricketers equally.

NZC announced on its official website that both women’s and men’s cricketers in New Zealand would get the same remuneration for the same work on the same day after a breakthrough deal reached by NZC, the six Major Associations, and the New Zealand Cricket Players Association.

Under the agreement signed for the five years, women’s players will be paid the same match fees as men across all formats at both the domestic and international levels.

The deal will also translate into an increase in the number of domestic contracts for women to 72 from 54. However, the professional men’s players will receive higher retainers based on the increased number of matches played, formats contested, and time spent on training and playing.

In his remarks, NZC Chief Executive David White hailed the equal pay agreement as a historic success that would significantly contribute to the development of women’s cricket.

“This is the most important agreement in our sport, as it binds NZC, the Major Associations, and our players at the hip, and sets the foundation to fund, grow and develop cricket,” he said.

“Importantly, it represents a significant step forward as we continue to grow our investment in women’s cricket.”

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