New Zealand coach Ian Foster labelled the confrontation between Akira Ioane and former All Black Justin Marshall as disappointing, but assured the issue has been cleared up.
The All Blacks suffered their first home series defeat in 28 years after Ireland triumphed 32-22 in Saturday's winner-takes-all-decider.
While Irish players took to the streets of Wellington to celebrate, flanker Ioane and Sky Sports commentator Marshall were caught on video footage confronting one another.
Marshall, who played 81 games for New Zealand, was ushered away by Caleb Clarke and George Bower as Ioane, surrounded by team-mates, attempted to move towards the 48-year-old.
The footage was drowned out by the celebrations around them and Foster expressed his disappointment with all those involved after the video circulated on social media.
"Look, the reality is it's disappointing. But two people were mouthing off a little bit at each other. I wish that hadn't happened," said Foster, whose job safety was confirmed on Friday despite defeat to Ireland.
"Yes, I've talked to both people involved, and I know they've had a conversation with each other, and there are no issues going forward."
New Zealand Rugby issued a statement after the incident, saying "behaving responsibly is one of the core values in our team environment" as Sky confirmed Marshall would remain part of their coverage for the All Blacks' upcoming tour of South Africa in August.
Though Foster questioned the actions of both Marshall and Ioane, the 57-year-old was not best pleased with the person taking the footage and then uploading it onto social media.
"I'm also not overly impressed that people think that they should film that stuff and spread it," he added.
"Because two people arguing in a pub, I don't think is as big of an issue as people make it out to be."
Ioane was still included in the 36-man All Blacks squad on Friday for the upcoming Rugby Championship.
Afghanistan brush aside sorry New Zealand, Bangladesh see off Sri Lanka in World Cup
Afghanistan's strong start to the T20 World Cup continued on Friday as they dismantled New Zealand with an 84-run victory in Guyana.
It is now two wins in two for Afghanistan, who enjoyed another impressive opening stand as Rahmanullah Gurbaz plundered 80 off 56 balls, including five fours and five boundaries, with Ibrahim Zardan adding 44.
Azmatullah Omarzai's dismissal for 22 saw Afghanistan stumble, but with a respectable 159-6, it was always going to be hard for New Zealand to chase.
The 2021 runners-up could not find their footing, with only two of their players reaching double figures – Glenn Phillips top-scored with 18.
They stumbled to 75 all out in just 15.2 overs, suffering their first T20 international defeat to Afghanistan, and they drop to the bottom of Group C.
Elsewhere, Bangladesh survived a scare to make a winning start to their campaign, getting a two-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in Dallas.
Pathum Nissanka impressed with 47 off just 28 balls, but a flurry of late wickets saw Sri Lanka stumble to 124-9 after a strong start.
Bangladesh’s chase started poorly, with both openers being dismissed in the first two overs. However, after Towhid Hridoy's 40, and Liton Das' 36, Mahmudullah's 16 not out helped them over the line at the end of the 19th over.
Data Debrief: Dominant Afghanistan strike again
Afghanistan have opened an ICC Men's T20 World Cup campaign with back-to-back wins for just the second time, last doing so in 2016. They have now won their last four T20Is, their longest streak since 2022.
Gurbaz hit 50 for the second game in a row, improving on his 76 runs in their win over Uganada with 80 in this win.
Bajan-born Nicholas Kirton among runs as Canada shock Ireland to earn first World Cup victory
Canada earned their first-ever T20 World Cup win with a shock 12-run victory over Ireland on Friday.
It was not the best start for Canada in the power play, but they soon found their rhythm when Barbados-born Nicholas Kirton and Shreyas Movva came into the fold, scoring 49 and 37 respectively, before Barry McCarthy got them both out in his 2-24.
They fizzled out shortly after, finishing with 137-7, though it soon became clear an upset was on the cards as Ireland stumbled to 59-6 in the 13th over, thanks to Canada's impressive bowling.
A strong display from George Dockrell (30 not out) and Mark Adair (34), paired with fielding mistakes, set up a nervy finish. However, Adair was then taken by Jeremy Gordon (2-16) in the final over to ensure Ireland would finish short of their target with 125-7.
Ireland stay bottom of Group A with no points, while Canada are right in the mix, level on two with Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Scotland continued their strong start to the World Cup with their first win of the tournament, a five-wicket victory over Namibia on Thursday to move them top of Group B.
Data Debrief: History made for Canada
Before this game, Canada had lost each of their last five men's T20Is; they had lost only four of their 23 games prior to this run in the format (W18 T1). However, that run has now ended in perfect fashion.
For just the second time, Ireland have lost their opening two games in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup; only in 2016 did they do the same in a single edition of the tournament.
Windies spinner Motie shortlisted for ICC Player-of-the-Month award for May
West Indies slow left-arm orthodox bowler Gudakesh Motie is reaping the benefits of his consistent performances in recent times, as he has been shortlisted for the International Cricket Council (ICC) Player of the Month awards, which celebrates the outstanding performers from international competition in May.
The Guyanese, who is currently on duty with the West Indies at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, is joined by Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Ireland's Lorcan Tucker on the men's list released by ICC on Friday. The women's list is headlined by Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu, with England's Sophie Ecclestone and Scotland's captain Kathryn Bryce, the other nominees.
Motie, 29, earned a nomination after his Player of the Series exploits in West Indies whitewash series triumph over South Africa. Similarly, Pakistan pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi enjoyed a prolific wicket-taking month in his side’s T20I tours of Ireland and England last month, while Ireland's wicketkeeper/batsman Tucker recorded consistent scores against Pakistan, Netherlands and Scotland in his side’s preparations for the T20 World Cup.
Like Motie, Afridi and Tucker are both on duty at the T20 World Cup being hosted in the Caribbean and United States.
Meanwhile, two stars from the recently concluded ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier in the UAE are nominated in the Women’s Player of the Month category, alongside an England spin sensation.
Sri Lankan skipper Athapaththu is nominated for the second month in a row after topping the run-scoring charts in Abu Dhabi and hitting a sparkling century in the final match. She is joined by Scotland skipper Bryce, who led her side to an historic first qualification for a women’s World Cup event thanks to memorable individual contributions. England’s Ecclestone is the third name in contention, nominated for more wicket-taking feats as her side overcame Pakistan in both shorter formats last month.
An independent ICC Voting Academy and fans around the world will now be invited to cast their votes to decide the winners, which will be announced next week. Fans are now able to vote for their favourite performers at icc-cricket.com/awards.
Shaheen Shah Afridi
ICC Men’s Player of the Month Nominees for May:
Gudakesh Motie (WI)
The West Indies’ left-arm spinner enjoyed plenty of success in the home series against South Africa in May, taking eight wickets across three matches at an average of 8.50, as the hosts sealed a statement 3-0 victory in Jamaica. Motie took three for 25 in the opening contest to restrict the tourists’ chase and he backed that performance up with another impressive spell of three for 22 to stifle the middle order in the second fixture. Another two wickets in the final match turned the tide in favour of the hosts once more and allowed the 29-year-old to claim the Player of the Series accolade.
Shaheen Shah Afridi (PAK)
Pakistan’s frontline pacer is nominated for the second successive month after another blistering spell of fast bowling in May. Afridi took ten wickets in his five T20I contests during the month, which included three consecutive three-wicket hauls. Spells of three for 49 and three for 14 against Ireland helped Pakistan overturn a series deficit to win in Dublin, before the 24-year-old followed up with three for 36 against England in Birmingham. The three-time nominee has never won a Men’s Player of the Month award but has a strong case to claim his maiden prize.
Lorcan Tucker (IRE)
The wicketkeeper-batter aims to become the first Irish winner of the Men’s Player of the Month award since Harry Tector in May 2023, and is nominated thanks to explosive run-scoring feats during a busy month of international competition. Tucker top-scored for Ireland in the second and third matches against Pakistan with successive quickfire scores of 51 and 73, and carried that momentum into the tri-series against Scotland and Netherlands, hitting 40 and 55 as Ireland sealed confidence boosting wins ahead of their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign.
Scotland's Kathryn Bryce
ICC Women’s Player of the Month Nominees for May:
Chamari Athapaththu (SL)
Athapaththu has been no stranger to personal accolades in recent months, and continued her inspiring form in May as Sri Lanka booked their place at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 in Bangladesh with victory at the Qualifier in Abu Dhabi. The captain topped the runscoring charts at the event, and recorded 151 runs and six wickets in May’s contests. Once qualification was sealed, Athapaththu saved her best performance for last, smashing 102 in 63 balls against Scotland in a Player of the Match performance which guided her side to the trophy.
Kathryn Bryce (SCO)
Despite missing the final match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier last month through injury, Player of the Tournament Bryce spearheaded an historic campaign for Scotland which saw them qualify for their first ever women’s World Cup event. Chasing 100 for victory against Thailand, Bryce came in after an early wicket to steer her side to victory with a commanding unbeaten 63 in 58 balls. With qualification on the line against Ireland in the semi-final, Bryce produced more heroics, dismissing both of Ireland’s openers in the first over on her way to career-best figures of four for eight runs before hitting the winning runs in her 35 not out to cue jubilant celebrations.
Sophie Ecclestone (ENG)
Ecclestone sits at the top of the ICC Women’s T20I and ODI Bowler Rankings, and demonstrated her prowess in both formats with impressive performances in May. The left-arm spinner was a threat throughout England’s double series triumph over Pakistan, taking five wickets in the T20I contests, and six wickets in the ODIs. Among her highlights from the month was a commanding spell of three for 11 in the second T20I at Northampton, and back-to-back three-wicket hauls in both of the completed ODI encounters, earning her the Player of the Series prize.
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