In a statement on Monday, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) said that it “has been working closely and constructively with all parties to progress discussions regarding the proposed awarding of a license and the establishment of the new league”.

Those discussions had made a launch in January 2027 appear likely, but “it has become clear that additional time is required to complete the work necessary to establish the competition”.

Part of the reason is the international calendar, “with locked-in Test series against Australia and Sri Lanka in January and February significantly reducing the available window”. The timeline for the launch is being revised as a result.

“Our focus is on ensuring the future of domestic T20 cricket in New Zealand is sustainable, competitive and aligned with the global game,” NZC chair Diana Puketapu-Lyndon said. “We’ve been working closely with NZ20 and are encouraged by the progress made to date. Taking additional time now will help ensure the competition is set up to succeed over the long term.

“In the meantime, NZC will make arrangements to continue its Super Smash competitions for the 2026-27 season, and to host the incoming tours from India and Sri Lanka men, and Bangladesh women.”

The plan, like Puketapu-Lyndon said, is to make the competition as strong as possible and not a half-baked effort.

“We have made strong progress in partnership with NZC, with growing interest from investors both in New Zealand and internationally,” NZ20 establishment committee chair Don Mackinnon said. “However, we are determined to ensure NZ20 launches without compromise and is set up for long-term success from day one.

“It is also critical that the competition sits alongside, not against, international cricket. With the international schedule now confirmed, the available window for 2027 is simply too tight. 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.”

Mackinnon said that investor interest had been encouraging, prompting NZ20 to initiate a formal process.

“Interest from prospective investors has grown since NZ20 was identified as the preferred option for NZC,” Mackinnon said. “As a result, we will run a competitive process to identify the league’s primary investment partner, as well as the ownership of the respective franchises,” he said.

“This additional time will also allow us to finalise key elements of the competition, including franchise locations, ensuring we build strong regional connections and a compelling national footprint.”