New Zealand’s Back-to-Back Losses Knock Them Out of Tournament
New Zealand lost their first two matches, putting them at the bottom of their group and out of contention for the tournament’s knockout stages. Gary Stead, who became New Zealand’s coach in 2018 and led them to the 2021 final, still has a year left on his contract.
Stead avoided answering whether he should still lead the team before Afghanistan’s win confirmed New Zealand’s exit. “That’s a question for others,” he said. “But I’m confident in our preparation.”
New Zealand suffered a 13-run defeat to the West Indies and a shocking loss to Afghanistan. Stead expressed disappointment, saying, “We came here to win matches and tournaments.”
