New Zealand Women name T20 World Cup squad, Devine & Tahuhu to retire after tournament

New Zealand Women have announced their 15-member squad for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026, set to be held in England during June-July. Veterans Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine, and Lea Tahuhu are set to retire from international cricket after the tournament. Bates had earlier announced this as her final assignment, while Devine and Tahuhu confirmed their decisions when New Zealand Cricket (NZC) revealed the squad on April 29.

The team will be led by Amelia Kerr and features a strong core, with ten players retained from the title-winning squad two years ago. Among the notable inclusions are Nensi Patel and Izzy Sharp, who have been rewarded for their recent performances. The squad also includes experienced names such as Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, and Georgia Plimmer.

It will be a maiden T20 World Cup appearance for Bree Illing, Polly Inglis, and Flora Devonshire, all of whom were part of the ODI World Cup squad last year. Patel made her T20I debut a couple of months ago, while Sharp already has 11 T20I appearances to her name.

"Any time you're chosen to represent your country on the world stage it's an honour, but World Cups hold an elevated level of importance, and I'm certain everyone can't wait to get on the plane. It's going to be an extra special time for Izzy and Nensi with it being their first World Cup. They've comfortably taken to international cricket this summer, and should both have confidence heading into this next challenge,” said Ben Sawyer as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

New Zealand head into the tournament in strong form, having won seven of their last eight T20Is. As part of their preparations, they will play a three-match T20I series against England Women in late May, before the official World Cup support period begins on June 7.

Placed in Group 2 of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026, New Zealand will compete alongside Ireland Women, Scotland Women, Sri Lanka Women, West Indies Women, and hosts England. They are scheduled to play two warm-up matches in Loughborough, against Bangladesh Women on June 6 and South Africa Women on June 9. New Zealand will then begin their World Cup campaign against West Indies in Hampshire on June 14.

New Zealand squad for the women's T20 World Cup:

Amelia Kerr (capt), Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine, Flora Devonshire, Izzy Gaze (wk), Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis (wk), Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Nensi Patel, Georgia Plimmer, Izzy Sharp (wk), Lea Tahuhu