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ANALYSIS: The proposed NZ20 domestic cricket competition is facing an uncertain future - before it's even begun.

The Post understands the New Zealand Cricket board scheduled an out-of-cycle meeting on Friday morning amid suggestions the planned T20 franchise tournament - which is aiming to attract financial backers from overseas - could now be delayed for a second year.

The controversial revamped competition had initially hoped to have its launch in January 2027, but it was announced in May by the governing body that it was considered too tight a deadline, with the inaugural competition instead aiming at the 2027/2028 season.

Now, The Post understands there are further doubts over its start date, amid concerns over a lack of a primary investment partner and ownership of the respective franchises.

A joint statement from NZC and NZ20 in response to questions from The Post about the prospect of further delays to the competition launch, said: “Commercial discussions of this nature are confidential, and neither New Zealand Cricket nor NZ20 will comment on individual parties or the status of particular discussions.

“New Zealand Cricket and NZ20 continue to work towards launching the competition in the 2027/28 season.”

Former chief executive Scott Weenink stepped down from that role last December, saying he held a different view from several member associations, and the NZCPA (Players’ Association), on the future priorities for NZC, including the best role for T20 cricket in New Zealand.

In March, former Black Cap Dion Nash left the NZC board, saying he could no longer align with the future direction of the organisation.

Those questioning the ability of starting a franchise domestic T20 competition in New Zealand have doubts over the market for such a tournament, competition for players and funding from other T20 leagues around the world during a similar time-frame, and the financial risk should NZC have an ownership interest as planned.

In March, NZC had announced the privately-funded NZ20 model as their preferred option for the future of the local game, over keeping, or tinkering with, the Super Smash, or entering a Kiwi team in Australia’s men’s and women’s Big Bash Leagues.

“This revised timeline gives us the best opportunity to build a world-class competition that New Zealanders can be proud of and that fans deserve,” NZ20 establishment committee chair Don Mackinnon said at the time.

The existing Super Smash competition for the six men’s and women’s major associations will remain in place this summer, but is without previous naming sponsor Dream11, due to changes in India’s gambling laws.

Only 24 of the 64 Super Smash matches scheduled to be play in the 2026/27 season will be broadcast, across 12 double-header match-days this summer, including the finals.

Last month, The Post reported that grassroots cricket administrators had expressed concerns over a lack of information surrounding an expensive report provided to NZC.

Some district association chairs want access to a Deloitte Sports Business Group report on the options advised to NZC on the future of its domestic T20 competition.

It’s understood the organisation spent upwards of $500,000 to get those options covered, and then proceeded with a proposal not supported by Deloitte’s advice - opting to make an in-principle decision to support the establishment of the proposed NZ20 competition.

Leading Black Caps players - including test captain Tom Latham and three-format regulars Daryl Mitchell and Rachin Ravindra - have been vocal supporters of the NZ20 concept.

However, a string of Black Caps T20 players have signed deals to play in Australia’s BBL - which runs from December 12 to January 26 - which could lead to the BBL franchises having an upper hand in securing their services for following seasons.

Cricket Australia’s board has recently formally agreed to allow states to take their BBL clubs to market to sell stakes, or the club entirely, to private investors.

ANALYSIS: Grassroots cricket administrators are well within reason to express concerns over a lack of information surrounding an expensive report provided to New Zealand Cricket.

Some district association chairs want access to a Deloitte Sports Business Group report on the options advised to NZC on the future of its domestic T20 competition.

It’s understood the organisation spent at least half a million dollars to get those options covered, and then proceeded with a proposal not supported by Deloitte’s advice - opting to make an in-principle decision to support the establishment of the proposed NZ20 competition to replace the current Super Smash.

As part of a five-year plan by NZ Cricket in 2024, Project ‘Bigger Smash’ was conceived. Options that were later under evaluation included maintaining the status quo, a reform of the Super Smash and/or privatisation, a New Zealand-based BBL/WBBL expansion club, and private league concepts (including NZ20).

The NZ20 - which is expected to feature private and overseas investment - was hoped to get off the ground in January next year, but will instead be delayed until the 2027/2028 season. That will see the current Super Smash model stay for next season.

It had been reported that then-NZC chief executive Scott Weenink wasn’t a supporter of the NZ20 proposal, but in a report to the NZC board last November, seen by The Post, Weenink wrote: “the process remains independent and objective, with all four options given equal prominence”.

Weenink resigned in December, saying “it has become clear that I hold a different view from several Member Associations, and the NZCPA [Players’ Association], on the future priorities for NZC, including the long-term direction of the game and the best role for T20 cricket in New Zealand.”

Former Black Caps allrounder Dion Nash later resigned from the board, citing the difficulty of aligning with the organisation’s direction.

Northland Cricket chair Derek Slatter has been pushing for a release of the Deloitte report to all NZC stakeholders, with the support of other minor associations. It’s understood the report has only been viewed by NZC management, its board and Major Association chairs, who have all signed non-disclosure agreements over its details.

“Our interest in it is to be able to form a view as to whether the rules or constitution of NZ Cricket has been followed in terms of how they make decisions and for what reasons,” Slatter told The Post.

“The constitution, as does ours and that of the major associations, all say the same thing really, which is that the professional game is a means towards supporting the grassroots game.”

Slatter said funding for district associations which oversee club, school and community cricket has declined in real terms close to 50% over the last decade; hence the concern that NZC needs to be transparent over decision-making when substantial sums are involved.

Former New Zealand captain Jeremy Coney has also questioned NZC’s decision.

“They've sold January,” Coney said during the latest episode of the “On The Front Foot” podcast with Bryan Waddle.

“They've given them [NZ20] January - one of our best and most important parts of our DNA. And what I would like to know, a very simple question, is the NZC commercially liable for a percentage of the losses, as well as the wins made by NZ20?”

Coney said "silence has been the feature” surrounding NZC’s decision to back the NZ20.

“They clearly feel it is the better option. But if it is such a good story and a good idea and a good thing to do, why aren't they telling us that?

“For me anyway, it's just a story that's been told in shadows and in obscurity, you know, and conversation in closed rooms with the curtains pulled. I see that as a pretty bad way of going about starting this thing.”

Leading Black Caps players - including test captain Tom Latham and three-format regulars Daryl Mitchell and Rachin Ravindra - have been vocal supporters of the NZ20 concept.

But the new competition will likely face a major challenge in recruiting players with the likes of the BBL and SA20 played in a similar time window.

Cricket Australia’s board has recently formally agreed to allow states to take their BBL clubs to market to sell stakes, or the club entirely, to private investors.

Meanwhile, Black Caps white-ball captain Mitchell Santner declined a lucrative offer to give up his NZC central contract to join the BBL on a two-year deal, saying his ambition to feature in test matches against India and Australia was a key reason.

New NZC chief executive Geoff Allott, who took up the role in July, organised a meeting to discuss the issue after requests from Slatter.

“That was useful to a degree, but there's a decision confirmed that they will not release the Deloitte report on any sort of terms,” Slatter said.

“We offered to sign NDAs [non-disclosure agreements] the same as everyone else who's had that report would, and our interest is not in the gory details.”

Contacted by The Post for comment, NZC confirmed a meeting took place between Allott and Slatter but declined to comment further.

NZ20 establishment committee chair Don Mackinnon has said that investor interest has been “highly encouraging”, prompting NZ20 to initiate a formal process to identify the league’s primary investment partner, and the ownership of the respective franchises.

But Slatter said “there was very little, if anything, that mentioned about the impact on grassroots”.

“We want to have a look and be able to judge and say, all right, we can see that this decision is the best one in front of you in terms of generating more money for the game, including grassroots.

“It's a disappointing scenario where, if community cricket had been prioritised as it always should have been, we would have been around the table as part of that discussion.

“But that is not the case, and hence we are feeling we have to agitate further.”

ANALYSIS: There may be a heated rivalry among the expected hot-takes from Sky TV’s cricket commentators this home summer.

The commentary team announced on Monday featured the surprise inclusion of recently-appointed England men’s test coach and former Black Caps skipper Stephen Fleming.

As predicted, Ian Smith will be back in the big chair for the record-setting tour of India to meet the Black Caps starting next month.

The ex-New Zealand wicketkeeper left the network at the end of 2022, saying Sky TV had a changing face “a long way removed from this old scaly, sunburnt one.”

He will be joined by fellow former NZ representatives Simon Doull, Katey Martin, Ross Taylor, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, Shane Bond and Lea Tahuhu.

There will also be a highly prominent Indian contingent for the five T20Is, five ODIs and two tests, via former test coach Ravi Shastri, ex-captain Sunil Gavaskar and veteran commentator Harsha Bhogle.

Among those absent from recent commentary teams will be Mark Richardson, Scotty Stevenson, Grant Elliott and Neil Wagner.

Smith is widely regarded as an astute observer and lead commentator, while Doull isn’t shy of taking a pointed view on a hot topic; nor is his former NZ and Northern Districts team-mate Styris.

While Bhogle, Shastri and Gavaskar will be expected to provide extra insight into the touring side, the trio have often been criticised for almost blindly favouring the Indian side, and they’re unlikely to back down if challenged by the NZ members of Sky’s coverage.

In between them could be former White Ferns wicketkeeper Martin, who made a smooth transition to commentating after retiring from playing and is already among the sharpest and knowledgeable analysts of the game worldwide.

India’s tour, beginning on October 22 at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval, will mark the first time in six seasons that Sky have held the rights to the home NZ international programme.

After being the home of broadcasted cricket here since 1995, it lost the rights to Spark Sport in April 2020, with TVNZ as a free-to-air partner. When Spark Sport closed in 2023, TVNZ took over the coverage.

Fleming is a surprise inclusion to provide comments during the T20I matches. He was given the job after England’s 2-1 series defeat to New Zealand, but Marcus Trescothick was in charge as interim coach for the just-completed 3-0 sweep over a woeful touring Pakistan side.

The 53-year-old, who has been touted as a potential key figure in the prospective establishment of the NZ20 competition for the 2027/28 domestic season here, will assume the England coaching reins ahead of his first test in full control against South Africa in mid-December.

Hindi commentary will be available for the first time here for the Indian men’s tour, which will also feature production features including Raptor Cam and Virtual Eye technology.

“We want to bring the same depth and understanding to India’s players, supporters and cricket culture as we do to the Black Caps,” said Sky TV’s head of sport content Gary Burchett, who has previously spent six years in India as director of cricket for Star Sports.

The White Ferns will host Bangladesh in December, while the Black Caps will return from a four-test series in Australia in December and January to face Sri Lanka here in January and February.