Jacob Duffy joins New Zealand final squad as PCB chair absence draws focus
New Zealand’s final preparations will shift for players and staff as jacob duffy is brought in ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 title match, while cricket’s leadership presence in the stands is also under scrutiny. Sunday at 12: 22 a. m. ET, attention centered on the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where India and New Zealand are set to meet for the trophy.
New Zealand selection changes put jacob duffy in the spotlight
For New Zealand, the immediate impact is on roles inside the squad as jacob duffy comes in for McConchie for the final. The change lands as New Zealand enter a championship match after what was described as an unexpected run into the final, sealed by a crushing victory over South Africa in the semifinal.
India, meanwhile, arrive after playing one of the highest-scoring semifinals in the history of T20 World Cups to reach the same stage. The final is scheduled at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, setting up a marquee matchup that also brings boardroom attention alongside on-field stakes.
Narendra Modi Stadium final draws cricket chairmen, but Mohsin Naqvi is affirmed out
The match is expected to be watched in person by chairmen of multiple cricket boards associated with the tournament. New Zealand Cricket Chairman Roger Twose is expected to be at the venue on Sunday night, and Tavengwa Mukuhlani of Zimbabwe Cricket and Dr. Mohammed Moosajee of Cricket South Africa are also likely to attend.
Still, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi has given no hint he will attend, and it was affirmed he will not be present. His absence has become a headline as India and New Zealand prepare to play at a venue described as iconic and widely known as ICC Chairman Jay Shah’s hometown.
There was also no immediate information on whether Bangladesh Cricket Board President Aminul Islam will attend, as he is currently in Melbourne.
ICC governance plans change as Doha meeting is postponed
A separate governance shift also affects cricket’s leadership calendar around the same period. The ICC had scheduled meetings for March 25-27 in Doha, Qatar, but the meeting has been postponed in view of the ongoing war in the Middle East. A formal confirmation was sent to members on Saturday.
With Doha off the calendar for now, the ICC is exploring new venues in Asia, and the meeting is expected to be reconvened sometime in April, though a date has not been announced. The postponed gathering was set to bring together ICC Board Directors, Chief Executives, Committee Members and senior leadership as part of the organization’s governance calendar, with the aim of deliberating key matters tied to the present and future of the global game.
The next concrete change point is the ICC’s rescheduling decision: if a new venue and date are finalized, the reconvened meeting is expected to take place sometime in April (time and date not announced).
