New Zealand Cricket (NZC) announced on Friday that Sophie Devine will step down as the T20I captain after the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in October. While she will be relinquishing the captaincy role in the shorter format, Devine will remain at the helm of the ODI side.
The 34-year-old has led New Zealand in 56 T20 matches, winning 25, losing 28, and drawing one. She first captained the side in a few games between 2014 and 2015 before assuming the permanent role in both formats in 2020, taking over from Amy Satterthwaite.
Devine, who made her international debut for New Zealand in 2006 and has played 135 T20Is, explained that her decision to step down as T20 captain was driven by her desire to create a more balanced workload. “I’m very proud to have had the privilege to captain the WHITE FERNS in both formats,” said Devine. “With captaincy comes an additional workload that, while I’ve enjoyed taking on, can also be challenging at times. “Stepping away from the T20 captaincy will take a bit off my plate so I can focus more of my energy on my playing role and nurturing the future leaders.”
Devine, currently recovering from a foot injury, expressed her intention to continue leading the WHITE FERNS in ODI cricket and reiterated her commitment to playing both formats for New Zealand. “I’m not ready to give up ODI captaincy just yet,” she said. “But I won’t be around forever, so I think stepping away from captaining one format at a time gives the next leaders time to find their feet.”
New Zealand’s 15-player squad for the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 will be announced on September 10. The team will depart on September 16 to play three T20Is against Australia in Mackay and Brisbane in preparation for the World Cup.
NZC stated that “A decision on who will succeed Devine as T20 captain will be made in due course.”
