New Zealand head coach Gary Stead admitted on Friday that his job is in jeopardy following the Black Caps’ elimination from the group stage of the T20 World Cup. New Zealand’s back-to-back losses to Afghanistan and West Indies put their qualification for the Super Eight stage in doubt. Afghanistan’s win over Papua New Guinea on Friday sealed New Zealand’s fate.
Stead, who has been the New Zealand coach since 2018 and led the team to the 2021 final, has one year left on his contract. Speaking before Afghanistan’s victory over Papua New Guinea, Stead sidestepped questions about his future as coach. “That’s a question you should be asking other people,” the 52-year-old told Radio New Zealand. “I can look at myself in the mirror and know that the preparation we tried to put in place has been as good as possible.”
New Zealand’s early exit from the tournament is their first failure to reach the Super Eight stage since the competition began in 2007. This disappointing performance has raised questions about the future direction of the team and whether Stead will continue in his role. The coming days will likely bring more clarity as the New Zealand cricket board reviews the team’s performance and plans its next steps.