Matt Henry Set to Take Paternity Leave from New Zealand Camp After England Super 8 Clash

February 27. 2026: In a major update for New Zealand Cricket, star pacer Matt Henry has been granted parental leave. He will leave the New Zealand camp after the match against the England cricket team to be present for the birth of his second child.

New Zealand’s clash against England is very important. A win will confirm their place in the knockout stage. If the Black Caps qualify for the semi-finals, Henry could return to the squad.

Rob Walter Backs Henry’s Decision

New Zealand head coach Rob Walter shared his support for Henry. “Firstly, we’re all very excited for Matt and Holly on the arrival of their second child. It’s a very special moment for their family, and we wish them all the best,” he said in a statement.

Walter also said he hopes Henry can come back later in the tournament. He added that there is still time left, and the team hopes everything works out so Henry can return for the final matches.

Matt Henry will leave for New Zealand after tonight’s match due to birth of his second child.

- Henry might return for the Semi Finals if NZ qualifies. pic.twitter.com/glCG4ODeZj

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 27, 2026

If New Zealand beat England on Friday, they will qualify for the semi-finals and also finish at the top of their group with five points. This will help them face the second-placed team from Group 1. It will also ensure that both semi-finals are played in India.

Henry is New Zealand’s joint-highest wicket-taker in this T20 World Cup. He has taken six wickets in five innings with an economy rate of 7.38.

Earlier in the group stage, Lockie Ferguson was also given paternity leave and missed the match against Canada in Chennai. He later rejoined the team and played against Sri Lanka in the Super Eight on February 25.