New Zealand head coach Gary Stead could get contract extension until 2023 ODI World Cup

Gary Stead, the New Zealand men's head coach, could be in for a three-year contract extension until the 2023 ODI World Cup. NZC chief executive David White said the board is "delighted" with Stead's work but the coach will still be expected to go through a "robust" interview process this month.

"We are delighted with what he's done," White told stuff.co.nz. "When we appoint someone it's a consultative process with players, management, and then a recommendation to the board. We're hopeful to have that wrapped up before our board meeting at the end of August.

"It's important that the process is robust and is formal to a degree. It's appropriate we do that."

White further said if Stead was reappointed, the contract would likely be till the 2023 World Cup in India.

"We haven't agreed a term as yet but I would think that's likely to be until the next World Cup, which the ICC has now extended to November 2023. That would be a logical period," White said.

Taking over the reins from Mike Hesson, Stead was appointed as head coach in August 2018 for a two-year term until the T20 World Cup in Australia, which, originally scheduled for October-November this year, was recently pushed back until late 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Last week, Stead had expressed his willingness over carrying on in his role and said he had begun discussions with the board about extending his tenure at the helm.

"Talks have been pretty positive and, if New Zealand Cricket and the players feel as though I can keep contributing, then I'd be interested in continuing on," Stead told Stuff. He also said he shared a "really strong" working relationship with captain Kane Williamson, adding that they were both gung-ho about taking the team to the next level.

Stead, 48, had guided the team to the 2019 ODI World Cup final and, an extension until the 2023 ODI World Cup would mean his overseeing the two upcoming T20 World Cups as well - in 2021 and the following year, in India. That would take his tenure to just a year short of Hesson's six-year term, the longest served by a New Zealand men's head coach.