Off-spinning all-rounder Nensi Patel and batter Izzy Sharp have earned their maiden World Cup call-ups as part of a WHITE FERNS squad selected to defend their title at the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England in June.
The 15-strong squad, led by captain Melie Kerr, features ten players from New Zealand’s victorious 2024 campaign, including Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates who will be attending their tenth and final T20 World Cup.
Devine and Lea Tahuhu have confirmed the World Cup will be their last campaign with the WHITE FERNS, bringing the curtain down on their T20 careers after retiring from ODI cricket during the recent season.
Devine and Tahuhu will finish their careers in England alongside long-time teammate Bates who announced on Friday her retirement from international cricket at the end of the tournament.
Northern Brave’s Patel has been a consistent performer on the domestic scene and was rewarded with her T20I debut against Zimbabwe in February where she claimed three wickets for just eight runs in her second match.
Twenty-one-year-old Izzy Sharp is the youngest player in the squad and will make her senior World Cup debut after captaining New Zealand at the inaugural ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in 2023.
The hard-hitting right-hander has accrued 11 T20I caps since her WHITE FERNS debut in March 2025 and has become a key batter for the Canterbury Magicians on the domestic scene, most recently topping the team’s run scoring charts in the 2025-26 Super Smash.
Captain Kerr, who snared a T20 World Cup record of 15 wickets in 2024 and was named Player of the Tournament, will be joined in the spin department by all-rounders Bates, left-armer Flora Devonshire, and Patel.
The tournament will be the first in the format for left-arm seamer Bree Illing, wicketkeeper-batter Polly Inglis and Devonshire, who all featured in New Zealand’s squad at last year’s one-day World Cup.
WHITE FERNS ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Squad
Melie Kerr (C) Wellington Blaze
Suzie Bates Sparks
Sophie Devine Wellington Blaze
Flora Devonshire Central Hinds
Izzy Gaze Auckland Hearts
Maddy Green Auckland Hearts
Brooke Halliday Auckland Hearts
Bree Illing Auckland Hearts
Polly Inglis Sparks
Jess Kerr Wellington Blaze
Rosemary Mair Central Hinds
Nensi Patel Northern Districts
Georgia Plimmer Wellington Blaze
Izzy Sharp Canterbury Magicians
Lea Tahuhu Canterbury Magicians
The squad will take part in a three-match T20I series against England in late May before the World Cup support period begins June 7.
WHITE FERNS head coach Ben Sawyer congratulated the squad and acknowledged Sharp and Patel’s maiden selection.
“Congratulations to all players selected,” said Sawyer.
“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.”
Sawyer acknowledged Bates, Devine and Tahuhu in what will be their final WHITE FERNS campaign.
“To have our three most senior players all finishing their careers at the same tournament is a rare and special occasion.
“All three have had distinguished careers in their own right and given so much to this team and the game in general.
“There’ll be a time at the end of the tournament to further acknowledge and celebrate the trio and I know at present they’re very focussed on performing well in their final mission with the team."
Sawyer said the squad was in a good place following seven wins across their last eight T20Is, which included four of the teams’ highest-ever totals of 190 and above.
“I believe we’ve landed on a well-balanced squad that features a mix of experience and exciting young talent.
“We’ve worked really hard over the past 12 months to develop our batting depth in particular which we’ve seen bear fruit in our recent home series against South Africa and Zimbabwe.
“With the ball our pace bowling attack are competing hard for spots in the XI which is a great place to be from a depth perspective.”
The WHITE FERNS are placed in ‘Group 2’ alongside England, Ireland, Scotland, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies.
New Zealand will play two warm-up matches in Loughborough on June 6 and 9 against Bangladesh and South Africa respectively, before their first Group 2 match against the West Indies in Hampshire on June 14.
Matches will be broadcast live in New Zealand on Sky Sport NZ, with live scoring at nzc.nz.
WHITE FERNS T20 World Cup Schedule - Group 2 (NZT)
Match 1 v West Indies - Sunday 14 June 5.30am - Southampton
Match 2 v Sri Lanka - Wednesday 17 June 1.30am - Southampton
Match 3 v Ireland - Saturday 20 June 5.30am - Southampton
Match 4 v Scotland - Tuesday 23 June 9.30pm - Bristol
Match 5 v England - Sunday 28 June 5.30am - The Oval
