Gary Stead, the head coach of the Black Caps since 2018, has acknowledged that his future with the team seems uncertain and out of his control.
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With a year remaining on his contract, Stead’s position has come under scrutiny following the team’s disappointing performance.
Despite leading New Zealand to the 2021 final, the Black Caps failed to find their rhythm in the ongoing tournament.
Back-to-back defeats against the West Indies and Afghanistan, a team they had never lost to before, left them at the bottom of their group, rendering them unable to progress to the knockout stages.
When questioned about his suitability to continue as the head coach, Stead deflected the query, suggesting that it was a matter for others to evaluate. He expressed confidence in the preparation efforts made by the team, stating that they had tried to put in place the best possible preparation.
“That’s a question you should be asking other people. I can look at myself in the mirror and know that the preparation we tried to put in place has been as good as (possible),” Stead told Radio New Zealand ahead of Afghanistan’s win over Papua New Guinea, as quoted by AFP.
The New Zealand team’s performance at the World Cup was lacklustre from the outset. Their 13-run loss to the West Indies in Trinidad followed the shocking defeat against Afghanistan in their opening game. Notably, the Black Caps entered the tournament without any warm-up matches, a decision that may have contributed to their lack of preparedness.