New Zealand men’s assistant coaches Luke Ronchi and Jacob Oram will take up coaching roles with Islamabad United in the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026, even though the tournament overlaps with New Zealand’s international assignments.

Ronchi, New Zealand’s batting coach, was appointed as the head coach of Islamabad United earlier this year, while bowling coach Jacob Oram will serve as one of his assistants during the PSL season. Ronchi previously represented Islamabad United as a player for three seasons after making his debut in the tournament in 2017–18.

The PSL is scheduled to begin on March 26, shortly after New Zealand conclude their five-match T20I series against South Africa, which runs from March 15 to March 25. Following that series, New Zealand are also set to tour Bangladesh for three One-Day Internationals and three T20Is, although the official schedule for that tour is yet to be announced.

New Zealand Cricket performance manager Mike Sandle said the opportunity to work in franchise leagues abroad would benefit the coaches and the national team in the long run.

“This is a great chance for Luke and Jake to further their coaching experience and grow their skills outside of the New Zealand cricket environment,” Sandle said. “Just like our players, our coaches are in demand around the world. We believe Luke and Jake will not only personally benefit from their time in the PSL, but they will also be able to bring back valuable knowledge and intellectual property that can aid the Black Caps and New Zealand Cricket in the future.”

In the absence of Ronchi and Oram during the South Africa series, Wellington coach Jonny Bassett-Graham and New Zealand Cricket network coach Graeme Aldridge will join the national team’s support staff to assist head coach Rob Walter.

For the Bangladesh tour, Canterbury coach Brendon Donkers will step in to fill the roles.

Sandle welcomed the temporary additions to the coaching group, highlighting the opportunity for domestic coaches to gain experience at the international level.

“It will be great to have Jonny, Graeme and Brendon join the Black Caps environment. I’m sure they will gain a lot from the experience of working alongside our players and support staff,” Sandle said. “Their involvement will help strengthen our high-performance coaching depth, and we hope they will take valuable lessons back to benefit the domestic cricket system.”

The arrangement reflects New Zealand Cricket’s growing flexibility in allowing coaching staff to gain exposure in global T20 leagues while maintaining depth within the national team’s support structure.