As New Zealand Cricket ponders the future of the domestic Twenty20 game, Black Caps test captain Tom Latham has nailed his colours to the mast as to which option he prefers – the NZ20.

The future of the current model – the Super Smash – is in doubt, given there is no broadcast deal in place for next season and beyond.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has engaged the services of consultancy firm Deloitte to review the best options to take the sport forward.

Known as Project Bigger Smash, it’s understood four options are on the table. The most topical of those, at present, is the NZ20.

While only a concept at this stage, the NZ20 is supported by all six of New Zealand’s Major Associations – Auckland, Northern Districts, Wellington, Central Districts, Canterbury and Otago – as well as the New Zealand Cricket Players Association.

Former Black Caps captains Stephen Fleming, Daniel Vettori and Brendon McCullum are also understood to have championed the idea, while renowned lawyer Don Mackinnon heads the NZ20 establishment committee – which also contains two members of NZC’s board.

Similar to franchise models set up around the world, notably in South Africa and the Caribbean, the NZ20 would see private investment into teams, with that money used in particular to attract overseas players to turn out for Kiwi teams.

The NZ20 would theoretically operate in a January window. And although that would see it compete with Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL) and South Africa’s SA20, Latham said that the competition is what cricket in New Zealand needs.

“When you look at the NZ20 possibility, I think it’s a great initiative,” he said. “What it will bring to the country, to cricket in the country, will be hugely beneficial, having international players to boost the standard of cricket.

“We have a great standard of cricket, Super Smash has produced great cricketers for us up to this point.

“But being able to push the game forward here in New Zealand, I think it will only do great things for cricket.

“I’d love to see it happen.”