Off-spinning allrounder 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 ICC Women’s Twenty20 World Cup in England in June.

The 15-strong squad, led by captain Amelia Kerr, feature 10 players from New Zealand’s victorious 2024 campaign, including Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates, who will be attending their 10th 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 One-Day International (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.

The Northern Brave’s Patel has been a consistent performer on the domestic scene and was rewarded with her Twenty20 International (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 allrounders 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 ODI World Cup.

The squad will take part in a three-match T20I series against England in late May, before the World Cup support period begins on June 7.

White Ferns head coach Ben Sawyer congratulated the squad and acknowledged Sharp and Patel’s maiden selection.

“Congratulations to all players selected,” Sawyer said.

“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 focused on performing well in their final mission with the team.”

The White Ferns are placed in Group 2, alongside hosts 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.

White Ferns T20 World Cup 2026 squad

Amelia Kerr (c), Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine, Flora Devonshire, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Nensi Patel, Georgia Plimmer, Izzy Sharp, Lea Tahuhu.

White Ferns T20 World Cup Schedule – Group 2 (NZT)

Match 1 v West Indies – Sunday, June 14, 5.30am, Southampton

Match 2 v Sri Lanka – Wednesday, June 17, 1.30am, Southampton

Match 3 v Ireland – Saturday, June 20, 5.30am, Southampton

Match 4 v Scotland – Tuesday, June 23, 9.30pm, Bristol

Match 5 v England – Sunday, June 28, 5.30am, The Oval