Sophie Devine, the formidable New Zealand all-rounder, has announced her decision to step down as the T20I captain after the upcoming T20 World Cup in the UAE. However, she will continue to lead the ODI side.
Devine, who has captained New Zealand in 56 T20Is, has been a pivotal figure in the team’s success. She has led the White Ferns to the final of the 2020 T20 World Cup and the semi-finals of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
However, Devine believes it is the right time to reduce her workload and allow the next generation of leaders to emerge. “I’m very proud to have had the privilege to captain the White Ferns in both formats,” she said. “With captaincy comes an additional workload that, while I’ve enjoyed taking on, can also be challenging at times.”
Devine’s decision to step down from the T20I captaincy will allow her to focus more on her playing role and nurture the future leaders. “I’m not ready to give up ODI captaincy just yet,” she added. “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.”
Ben Swayer, the head coach, praised Devine’s leadership and experience. “Soph is the epitome of a fearless leader and we’re really grateful for the leadership she brings to this group on and off the field,” he said. “She’s one of the most experienced White Ferns ever and her leadership and knowledge of the game has been so valuable as we have introduced several young players into the team over the past two years.”
Devine is currently recovering from a foot injury ahead of New Zealand’s three-match T20I series in Australia next month. The series will serve as preparation for the T20 World Cup, which will be held in the UAE from October 10 to November 13. New Zealand will name their squad for the World Cup on September 10.
The decision on who will replace Devine as T20I captain has yet to be made. New Zealand’s next series in the format after the World Cup will be against Sri Lanka in March.
