Ex-New Zealand cricketer Dion Nash returns to cricket

Former New Zealand Test player Dion Nash has been elected to the Board of New Zealand Cricket (NZC), it has been announced.

Nash, who played 32 Tests and 81 One Day Internationals for his country, also acted as a New Zealand men’s team selector before founding the skin and haircare company, Triumph & Disaster in 2011.

“The 53-year-old will fill the vacancy left by the departing Martin Snedden, who steps down from the board by rotation following a lengthy service to the game as a player, chief executive, board member, chair of the board, and International Cricket Council director,” said a statement from NZC.

Bill Birnie and Roger Twose, who were also retired by rotation, successfully stood for re-election.

Board chair Diana Pukepatu-Lyndon welcomed Nash as a new NZC director and acknowledged Snedden’s significant contribution to the game.

“It’s good to have someone with Dion’s cricket and business experience coming onto the board at a time when Martin is stepping down,” said Diana.

“Martin’s been involved with NZC since he was a player in the eighties and has made an extraordinary contribution to the game over a period of 24 years.

“His mix of cricket, legal, and management expertise has been an important ingredient in the evolution of NZC from an old-fashioned incorporated society to a professional, modern and future-thinking organisation.”

Diana said Nash’s addition would ensure the board retained a strong understanding of the anatomy and culture of the game at both community and high performance level.

“Dion has a strong interest in not just the playing of the game but the business of the game and that should help stand us in good stead.”

The AGM heard that NZC returned an $8m surplus for the financial year, just over 50 percent above the budgeted surplus of $5.3m.

While the result was pleasing, Diana said it was important for NZC to protect its equity as there were headwinds forecast in the shape of a predicted $6.8m loss in the following 2024-25 financial year.

“Revenue for FY24 came in at $98.4m against a budget of $93.9m,” she said.

“This was in the main part due to a distribution wash up from the previous ICC broadcast cycle, increased gates for Pakistan and Australian series versus the BLACKCAPS, and some new commercial partnerships.

“Operating expenses were basically in line with budget at $87.8m, which meant an operating profit of $8m against a budgeted operating profit of $5.3, which is a very good result for NZC.”

The meeting elected four additional life members (Neil Craig ONZM, Graham Dowling OBE, Lee Robinson MNZM, and Jock Sutherland QSM) and three more honorary members (WHITE FERNS Nicola Browne and Aimee Watkins, and former New Zealand player and coach, Warren Lees MBE).

New Zealand Cricket, Blackcaps, Dion Nash, Triumph & Disaster, Bill Birnie, Roger Twose