Category: Sport

Source: Radio New Zealand

Incoming New Zealand Cricket chief executive Geoff Allott has no doubt that India is the future for the game.

Allott was this week confirmed in the top job for the national body, replacing Scott Weenink.

Allott played 10 Tests and 31 one day internationals for New Zealand between 1996 and 2000.

Since then his business endeavours have included the export of New Zealand goods to India.

India is one of the biggest economies in the world with Allott expecting the country to be the third largest by 2030.

“In my opinion that is where the focus will be for the world in the next decade or five,” Allott told First Up.

He said the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) were both very conscious that this doesn’t become a two or three team venture and that all member countries were supported.

But he has no doubt of the importance of India.

“Cricket in India provides a massive opportunity, not only for global cricket, but for New Zealand Cricket as well.”

Allott said a relationship with India was key.

“India is ironically not a transactional place; it is very much a relationship-based country so you do the mahi over there, you get the treats. That means you invest time, you invest energy, you build relationships and rapport and respect and then you’ll get the benefits.”

Allott said New Zealand players had already benefited from playing in the Indian Premier League.

“Our men and women are now rubbing shoulders with the best players in the world and getting amazing coaching and they get to play in sub-continent conditions that cost us a half a million dollars to tour every year.

“These are things that are now being paid for by the IPL and other professional leagues. Our players then get to bring that back and when they pull on the fern they are representing us with enormous skill.

“There is a balance obviously and cricket as it evolves through professionalism is working through that, but it is actually an incredibly exciting opportunity.”

Allott officially starts as chief executive of New Zealand Cricket on 1 July.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Black Caps batter Nick Kelly has signed to play for English county Leicestershire for the rest of the 2026 season.

Kelly is currently with the New Zealand side in Bangladesh and captained them in the first T20 international.

The 32-year-old has played 12 white-ball internationals for the Black Caps and will be available to play all formats for the Foxes from mid-May.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for me to experience county cricket for the first time,” Kelly said in a Leicestershire statement.

Kelly, who has played for Wellington since 2022, made his international debut in an ODI against Pakistan in Napier in 2025.

He has played six ODIs and six T20Is for New Zealand.

He has scored more than 4500 runs in first-class cricket at an average of just under 40 with 13 centuries.

Kelly is approaching 2000 runs in T20 matches with a strike rate of 127.

“Nick is a high-quality signing for us and someone we’re really excited to bring into the group,” Leicestershire head coach Alfonso Thomas said.

“He’s a versatile batter who can adapt to different situations, and his experience in white-ball cricket will be a real asset for us in the One Day Cup and T20 Blast.”

Leicestershire have drawn two and lost one on their return to the first division of the County Championship this year.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

After a five-week break, Liam Lawson is “super pumped” to get back into racing.

Formula 1 fires back into action in Miami this weekend, 35 days since their last outing, following the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GPs because of the war in Iran.

During that time, Lawson returned to New Zealand to train and work in the simulator. He also had a stint at the team base in Italy.

The 24-year-old feels he’s used his off-time well, but can’t wait to get back into racing on the 5.4km circuit around Hard Rock Stadium.

“I’m super pumped to get back to work in Miami now though – it’s a place I love a lot and the energy and atmosphere is amazing.

“The team has been working hard back at the factory to prepare for the Sprint weekend, so we’re looking forward to getting back on track with some upgrades too.”

Lawson is coming off points grabs in his last three races (Shanghai sprint and GP and Japan GP).

Racing Bulls have been busy in the time since the last race with team principal Alan Permane confirming some upgrades to the car.

“We carried out some additional work on the chassis that wasn’t originally planned until later in this flyaway sequence.

“We’re bringing some upgrades to Miami, as we expect everyone to do, so it will be interesting to see how the order shapes up this weekend.”

Permane was also positive about the adjustments that have been made following some criticism about the new regulations for the cars this year.

“It’s encouraging to see all parties come together to address the (power unit) concerns and implement positive changes, and we’re looking forward to seeing how that plays out on track this weekend.”

Lawson is 10th in the drivers’ standings with 10 points. Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes leads with 72 points.

Last year, Lawson finished 13th in the sprint race in Miami and was forced to retire during the GP after making early contact.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Rain washed out the second T20 international between Bangladesh and New Zealand in Chattogram on Wednesday, leaving the hosts 1-0 ahead in the three-match series.

Persistent showers throughout the day made play impossible, with the match abandoned without a ball being bowled. Even the toss could not be held.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board said fans who purchased tickets online would be refunded in line with its policy.

Bangladesh, who won the opening T20, will now take on the Kiwis in the third and final game on 2 May in Dhaka.

– AFP

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Warriors believe they have a formula that makes them the best supported club in New Zealand.

The NRL side again had to put up the sold out sign when 33,000 turned up to watch them beat the Dolphins in Wellington on Anzac Day.

In 2024 all ten home games at Mount Smart were sold out and they went close to achieving that again in 2025.

The fans have also flocked to watch the side this year and chief executive Cameron George believes making their tickets affordable has played a big part in them becoming the best crowd-pullers in the country.

George told Morning Report their focus had been on the game day experience for fans and making the games accessible.

“We engaged with 15-16-17 year olds in the country because we knew they would be the ticket buyers in the next year or two,” George said.

“We then significantly invested in the game day experience so that people left buzzing, not just about the result on the field, but about the experience they got. They then become your ambassadors.”

George believed the most important aspect was keeping ticket prices affordable.

“We’ve maintained a ticket price that is achievable for everyone so we haven’t through virtue of any success just put up the prices. Of course, they go up a little bit with costs but we haven’t blown it out of the water on the back of selling out a lot of stadiums.”

George said the club had also made a special effort to engage with the Pasifika communities.

“We want to inspire those communities, they are so important to us, so high engagement, we support where we can. We let them know that they are a part of our family but, most importantly, we want to be a part of their journey.”

The Warriors are second on the NRL table with six wins from eight games.

They play the Eels in Parramatta on Saturday.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Black Caps all-rounder Mitchell Santner will miss the rest of the Indian Premier League with a shoulder injury.

Santner initially injured the shoulder playing for Mumbai Indians earlier this month however he returned to action only to aggravate it at the weekend.

He was left clutching his shoulder after attempting a diving catch on the boundary while playing against Chennai Super Kings.

The injury is described as significant.

Santner had featured in four matches this season, picking up five wickets.

He has been replaced in the Mumbai squad by South African left arm spinner Keshav Maharaj.

The Mumbai Indians are ninth on the IPL table with two wins from seven games.

The Black Caps’ next tour is a three-test series against England in June.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

After a mammoth three-day rugby extravaganza at Christchurch’s new One New Zealand Stadium, fans and central city business-owners are delighted with how the weekend went.

Around 75,000 people went to the five Super Round matches, with bars having some of their busiest days ever.

Greg May, one of the owners of Smash Palace, said it was a huge weekend at the bar with large crowds each day.

“It was what I would have hoped for at my best estimation. It was really a wonderful increase.”

He said it was also clear there were a lot of people meeting up in Christchurch from out of town, including a lot of Australians.

Tomoki Peters was one of those who travelled all the way from Melbourne for Christchurch’s Super Round, as well as to visit family.

He went to all five games over the three days and had nothing but praise for the new stadium, even the beer prices.

“Not a bad seat in the house,” said Peters. “I sat in a lot of different locations over the weekend. Great atmosphere, fans were great, staff were great. Cheap beer, food was great.”

Michael Zohrab went along to the Highlanders game on Sunday, and said the atmosphere was magic.

“You can’t help but be a bit giddy. You walk here and its a brand new building and you’re in awe of how beautiful and pristine the whole building is. You get up there, and we were in the cheap seats, but no seat is a bad seat. You get so close to the field. Its such a nice experience compared to the other stadiums we have here.”

Toby Perry, who also went to the Sunday game, said he had a great time, and he also noticed the crowds over the weekend at the bar he works at.

“Super busy, it was really awesome to see. The vibe was great. No complaints. We had a really great crowd of people as well. It was one of our busiest weekends since we opened.”

Dux Central is a short walk from the stadium, and owner Richard Sinke said he thinks everyone in Christchurch would agree the city had a ball over the weekend.

“We saw great numbers of people both before and after the games, and even during the games. A surprising number of people stayed and watched the games here. I think people were just excited to be out and about, either in the stadium or in town.”

The city’s economic development agency Christchurch NZ was expecting about 13, 000 out-of-towners and a visitor spend of more than six million-dollars, although final figures are still being tallied.

The head of Venues Otautahi, which manages the stadium, Caroline Harvey-Teare, said she was delighted at how smoothly things went.

She said after Friday staff made a few minor tweaks, mostly around increasing signage.

“Most of those issues came around way-finding and a little bit of wrist banding in the corporate areas. So just getting more familiar with those areas, better signage for how people get around. So pretty small things, and I certainly didn’t hear of anyone having a compromised experience as a result.”

Some players have said the covered stadium resulted in hot humid conditions, with one describing it as a greenhouse, and there have been anecdotal complaints about expensive warm beer and cold food.

Ms Harvey-Teare said she wasn’t aware of any issues.

“I mean you’ll always have the anecdotal bits and bobs but all we know is our pricing is consistent with the central city and all of our hospitality providers, our beveridge pricing, is consistent. And actually lower than you’ll probably find than elsewhere. So we feel pretty comfortable. And we also know, and in fact we made sure, that everyone has an option. We definitely have ten dollar and under ten dollar options in all of our offerings.”

The Crusaders will play the Blues at the stadium next month, with rugby chiefs and city leaders hoping for another sell-out.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

NRL: NZ Warriors v Parramatta Eels

7.30pm Saturday, 2 May

CommBank Stadium, Sydney

Live blog updates on RNZ website

Centre Adam Pompey returns to the NZ Warriors starting line-up against Parramatta Eels, but star half Luke Metcalf has been named only in the reserves, after recovering from a hamstring strain.

Pompey sat out two games, after copping a dangerous contact suspension against Cronulla Sharks, then turned out for the Warriors reserves last week, scoring a try, as coach Andrew Webster stuck with a winning combination.

The 123-game veteran steps back into the midfield, with Ali Leiataua on concussion protocols.

The other significant change to the team that edged the Dolphins last week sees Tanner Stowers-Smith back on the bench from a hamstring niggle, replacing co-captain Mitch Barnett, who also failed a head check in Wellington.

Second-rower Marata Niukore was a late withdrawal from the Dolphins fixture and will also sit this one out with a head injury.

Metcalf and Te Maire Martin are listed in the wider squad, with the former allocated the No.20 jersey on the interchange.

Last month, Webster elected to inject Metcalf directly into the starting line-up, after he recovered from a season-ending knee injury suffered last June.

Metcalf tweaked a hamstring in the dying moments of the loss to Cronulla and his team have gone on a winning run in his absence, with Tanah Boyd and Chanel Harris-Tavita re-united in the halves.

Martin, who was used as a utility off the bench last season, is nearing a return, after breaking his leg for Māori All Stars in the pre-season.

Another notable absence from the squad is utility Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who suffered a neck injury against the Sharks, returned two weeks later against Gold Coast Titans, but a setback kept him out of action against the Dolphins and will do again against the Eels.

Warriors: 1. Taine Tuaupiki, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 4. Adam Pompey, 5. Alofiana Khan-Pereira, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Tanah Boyd, 8. James Fisher-Harris, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Jackson Ford, 11. Leka Halasima, 12. Kurt Capewell, 13. Erin Clark

Interchanges: 14. Sam Healey, 15. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 16. Demitric Vaimauga, 17. Jacob Laban, 18. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, 20. Luke Metcalf

Reserves: 21. Kayliss Fatialofa, 22. Te Maire Martin, 23. Makaia Tafua

Meanwhile, former Warriors Dylan Walker has been named on the Eels bench, despite leaving their loss against Manly early with an arm injury, suffered in a crunching tackle by Sea Eagles second-rower Haumole Olakau’atu.

Another former Warrior, Ronald Volkman, will start at five-eighth, while the line-up also features Auckland-born Junior Paulo and Auckland-raised Kelma Tuilagi.

Eels: 1. Joash Papalii, 2. Brian Kelly, 3. Will Penisini, 4. Sean Russell, 5. Josh Addo-Carr, 6. Ronald Volkman, 7. Mitch Moses, 8. Luca Moretti, 9. Ryley Smith, 10. Junior Paulo, 11. Charlie Guymer, 12. Jack Williams, 13. Jack de Belin

Interchange: 14. Tallyn da Silva, 15. Saxon Pryke, 16. Toni Mataele, 17. Dylan Walker, 18. Kelma Tuilagi, 19. Lorenzo Talataina

Reserves: 20. Jordan Samrani, 21. Teancum Brown, 22. Araz Nanva

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

The New Zealand Breakers have lured two-time NBL champion and proven leader Dejan ‘DJ’ Vasiljevic to the basketball club on a one season deal.

The guard is a marquee signing for the club that has yet to sign a coach for next season.

Vasiljevic joins the Breakers from the Adelaide 36ers, where he served as a leader and co-captain.

He has established himself as one of the most accurate offensive threats in the NBL, and has suited up for the Australian Boomers national team.

He is widely regarded as one of the NBL’s most lethal marksmen with a career three-point percentage consistently near 38 percent.

“DJ is a proven winner and a player who thrives under pressure, in big moments.” Breakers president of basketball operations Dillon Boucher said.

“His ability to stretch the floor and his leadership perfectly align with the style of play we have established here in Auckland.”

Vasiljevic has averaged 14.9 points per game over his prolific NBL career.

“I am incredibly excited to join the BNZ Breakers and become part of the whānau. This club has a prestigious history and with a clear vision for the future that I want to be a part of,” Vasiljevic said.

The signing of Vasiljevic adds to a Breakers roster which includes Parker Jackson-Cartwright and Tall Blacks big man Sam Mennenga.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Former Black Caps fast bowler Geoff Allott has been appointed chief executive of New Zealand Cricket, replacing Scott Weenink, who resigned in December.

Weenink left the role at the end of last year after months of escalating tension over the future direction of the game.

Allott, played 10 Tests and 31 ODIs for New Zealand between 1996 and 2000.

A founding board member of the New Zealand Cricket Players Association in 2002, he served on the Canterbury Cricket board (2011-2013) before joining the New Zealand Cricket board in 2013 and serving as a Director for eight years, retiring in 2021.

He was awarded NZC Life Membership the following year.

Allott will be NZC’s sixth chief executive, following Chris Doig, Martin Snedden, Justin Vaughan, David White, and Weenink.

He was General Manager of Cricket from 2008 to 2010.

Allott said he was excited to be returning to NZC.

“Having worn the silver fern as a player, served as General Manager of Cricket, and contributed for over eight years as a board director, I have a deep connection to this organisation and our game,” he said.

“I look forward to working collaboratively with the board, players, staff, member associations, and our commercial partners to build strong relationships, foster a positive and constructive culture, and deliver outstanding results both on and off the field.”

NZC chairperson Diana Puketapu-Lyndon said Allott was well qualified for the role.

“Geoff brings a rare and highly-relevant combination of attributes to the role: deep cricket expertise as a former New Zealand representative, invaluable experience within NZC as former General Manager of Cricket and Board member, and strong commercial leadership as Executive Director of his company QualityNZ,” Puketapu-Lyndon said.

“We’re confident his playing background, institutional knowledge, business acumen, and international outlook make him exceptionally well placed to lead NZC through the next phase of growth and development.

“On behalf of the Board, I welcome Geoff and wish him every success. We’re confident he’ll be a strong, collaborative leader who will work closely with all stakeholders to deliver an exciting future for New Zealand cricket.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand