New Zealand to launch their own IPL in 2027
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Currently, the Super Smash is the only T20 League hosted by New Zealand, and it has a very ignored status, as it does not attract international stars and is limited to only Kiwi players. Don MacKinnon, the current head of the NZ20 committee, thinks that T20 cricket in New Zealand should be beyond just the Super Smash.
T20 cricket in New Zealand is finally looking to make a revolution as they are about to enter the world of privately owned T20 leagues. The league's operation model might be very close to something like the CPL, where the tournament will be licensed by New Zealand Cricket but managed independently.
In a recent conversation with ESPNcricinfo, MacKinnon has revealed that the NZ20 is an extremely viable project and has suggested that the idea has come from several well-known faces in NZ cricket. He also feels that this would be an ideal time to launch.
New Zealand planning an entry into the world of the Private T20 League
The NZ20 plans do not have a green signal from New Zealand Cricket yet, but once they have it, the Super Smash is likely to be replaced. The Super Smash, a 6-team tournament, is believed to be no longer working by the NZ20 Establishment Committee head, Don MacKinnon.
Already once back in 2014, the NZC board had turned down the idea of a domestic league, as they believed that it would struggle to compete with the likes of the IPL and the BBL. However, MacKinnon points out that the time is now ripe for New Zealand to create their own brand of T20 cricket.
He mentioned that the Super Smash was no more effective at drawing a crowd and has turned out to be a "development" competition for players.
"What's different about it? Well, it's partly driven out of private investment, and so you get the ability to be very innovative. You have the ability to have greater capital, to invest in a better fan experience, both at the ground but also whether you are watching on television or online. We also think that if we get this right, we will attract the very best New Zealand players back into our domestic competitions," said MacKinnon, who believes that it has the power to revive fandom for domestic cricket in New Zealand.
NZ20 head points out that the NZ20 League was a viable project served by Stephen Fleming
The concept of a private league originated from great stars like Stephen Fleming as who believe that the time has come for the nation to hunt for a franchise-based league.
However, for the project to be continued successfully, the NZC approval would be needed, and the decision has to be made very quickly for the league to be inaugurated in January 2027.
"We have been in constant discussions with the New Zealand Cricket Board over the last two to three months. They have been excellent to deal with. They have been very clear to us that while they're excited by this project, they have other options they're looking at, including quite clearly whether they wish to consider trying to get a team into the Big Bash," said MacKinnon, claiming that NZC confirmed looking at various options.
MacKinnon did not reveal whether IPL franchise owners showed interest in the league
As MacKinnon reveals, the biggest challenge would be finding a clear window so that it does not clash with the BBL, IPL, SA20, or even the ILT20, since several players from their nation are involved in participation in these leagues.
"We appreciate we won't be able to attract everybody that we'd like to have, but the feedback from current New Zealand players is they would desperately love for this tournament to go ahead and would do everything to participate in it," said MacKinnon, as he believed New Zealand players are eager to participate.
One question remains: whether IPL franchise owners who now reportedly own franchises in The Hundred, SA20, MLC, CPL, and probably the BBL as well from their coming season, have shown interest in investing in a T20 League in New Zealand.
"We've also looked really closely at some of the models around the world and particularly the CPL where the league owners and the team seem to have done a great job in moving that competition not only into a point of profitability but also has really engaged fan interest. So that's one of the models we're looking at very closely. But by no means the only one," he added.
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