NZ20 explained: Does NZ’s new domestic T20 cricket share features with IPL?

Could New Zealand be moving towards its own version of franchise-style T20 cricket, a model familiar to fans of India's hugely successful Indian Premier League (IPL)?

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has provided more detail on why its Board chose NZ20 as its preferred option for domestic T20 cricket, rather than pursuing the alternative of a New Zealand team in Australia's Big Bash League.

The decision was made in March 2026, with the NZC Board voting unanimously, 7–0, to support NZ20 as its preferred option. The March decision was made in principle, subject to commercial, structural and governance matters being resolved.

NZC Board Chair Diana Puketapu-Lyndon said the organisation should have done more to explain the decision.

"We're confident we made the right call pursuing NZ20, but we acknowledge we should have provided more information about the process to get there and the rationale for where we finally landed,” she said.

“People who love this game deserved to know how we made the decision - we've heard that, and want to make it right.”

How NZC reached the decision

NZC said the Board considered four reports covering the community game, high performance, fan insights, and commercial and governance issues.

New Zealand-based advisers In Your Corner assessed the community game and high performance, Honoco provided fan insights, and Deloitte examined commercial and governance considerations.

The process included input from 30 to 40 community leaders, as well as current and former players, coaches and administrators. NZC Board members and management also held workshops with Deloitte and In Your Corner to discuss and test the findings.

What Deloitte said about the Big Bash

NZC said Deloitte's report was one part of the information considered and was not intended for public release because it contained confidential information from participants and stakeholders.

“While Deloitte has not identified any record of a commitment to provide participants with a copy of the report, it acknowledges that Sir Richard Hadlee and Lesley Murdoch came away from the process expecting to receive one and has apologised for any lack of clarity and if anything said during the consultation process created that expectation.”

Puketapu-Lyndon said NZC could disclose the report's key findings.

“At the time of Deloitte's report earlier this year, its analysis favoured exploring the Big Bash opportunity further, for reasons including financial upside and governance, but it also said weighing the options was for the Board and encouraged us to continue exploring both options.”

NZC ultimately decided that NZ20 was the preferred option after considering the research, stakeholder views and its own due diligence.

Why NZC chose NZ20

NZC said grassroots and community cricket was a major factor.

“Our constitution says the amateur game is the reason NZC exists, and NZ20 was the superior option in that respect with the development of a Capital Fund from the sale of teams which would help underpin the community game for years to come.

“The fact that NZ20 also offered a competition with six teams spread across the country, was another significant upside in terms of providing pathways for players, as well as exposure to fans and the ability to grow the game in New Zealand. There was also the commitment of a significant ownership stake, at zero cost, for NZC in the venture.

“Finally, we listened and took into account the views of our cricket network who are our most important stakeholders. These are the people our game relies on to function and prosper, and the message was clear, from our Major Associations (MAs) and our professional players – they wanted us to pursue NZ20.”

NZC also said it wanted to retain its ability to govern and develop cricket in New Zealand as the global game changes.

How does NZ20 compare with the IPL?

NZ20 and the IPL are separate competitions, but one might wonder whether the proposed NZ20 structure shares some similarities with the IPL’s franchise model.

The IPL features privately owned franchise teams, while NZ20 is also planned to involve team ownership and outside investment, with NZC retaining a significant ownership stake.

However, NZC has not said that NZ20 is modelled on the IPL.

It would be a New Zealand domestic competition, with NZC saying the proposed six-team league would provide pathways for players and greater exposure for fans around the country.

NZ20 is still being developed. NZC says it is working through a licensing agreement, while NZ20 is seeking an investment partner.

A major change for New Zealand cricket

Puketapu-Lyndon acknowledged the period had been challenging and said NZC could have communicated better.

When will NZ20 start?

NZC says NZ20 is making progress and that the parties are working through a licensing agreement ahead of a planned 2027–28 launch.

“NZ20 is genuinely aspirational. It has the potential to revolutionise the game of cricket in this country and ensure a sustainable future from the grassroots to the elite."

Super Smash will continue this summer

The proposed NZ20 model represents a significant change to New Zealand's domestic T20 structure, with team ownership and outside investment creating some similarities to the franchise model seen in the IPL, while remaining a separate New Zealand competition.