Sophie Devine has announced that she will step down as New Zealand’s T20 International (T20I) captain following the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in October. New Zealand Cricket (NZC) confirmed the news on Friday.

Devine, who is 34, will continue as the captain of the One Day International (ODI) team. She has led the T20I side in 56 matches, with a record of 25 wins, 28 losses, and one tie. Devine initially captained the T20 team in a few games between 2014 and 2015 before taking on the permanent role in both formats in 2020, succeeding Amy Satterthwaite.

Having made her debut for New Zealand in 2006, Devine has played 135 T20Is. She cited the need for a more manageable workload as the primary reason for stepping down from the T20I captaincy.

“I’m very proud to have had the privilege to captain the WHITE FERNS in both formats,” Devine said. “While leading comes with its challenges, stepping away from the T20 captaincy will help me focus more on my playing role and developing future leaders.”

Currently taking a break to recover from a foot injury, Devine emphasized that she remains committed to leading the ODI team and continuing to play both formats for New Zealand.

“I’m not ready to give up ODI captaincy just yet,” she stated. “But I believe stepping down from one format allows emerging leaders the opportunity to gain experience.”

New Zealand’s squad for the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 will be announced on September 10. The team will depart on September 16 to compete in three T20Is against Australia in Mackay and Brisbane as part of their World Cup preparations.

A decision on Devine’s successor as T20 captain will be announced in due course.

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