Sydney, Australia: European T20 Premier League (ETPL), officially sanctioned by the International Cricket Council (ICC), today announced...
Sydney, Australia: European T20 Premier
League (ETPL), officially sanctioned by the International Cricket Council
(ICC), today announced the owners of its first three franchises at an
international press conference in Sydney, staged against the iconic backdrop of
the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. The League confirmed Amsterdam,
Edinburgh and Belfast as the first franchise cities to join the competition
which is scheduled to begin in the late summer of 2026.
Amsterdam will be owned by a group led by
Australian cricket great Steve Waugh, former Australian captain and World
Cup-winning leader, alongside Jamie Dwyer , five-time World Player of the
Year and Olympic gold medallist, and Tim Thomas , former CEO of the Centre
for Australia-India Relations and former Partner at KPMG Australia.
Edinburgh will be owned by former New Zealand
internationals Nathan McCullum, former New Zealand international and
high-performance cricket coach, and Kyle Mills, former New Zealand fast
bowler and former ICC No.1 ODI bowler.
Belfast will be owned by Australian all-rounder
“The Big Show” Glenn Maxwell, global T20 star, together with Rohan Lund,
former Group CEO of NRMA, alongside strategic partners to be announced in due
course.
The announcement marks a defining moment in the
evolution of professional cricket in Europe; and represents the first phase of
ETPL’s franchise rollout ahead of its inaugural season, scheduled to commence
in the last week of August.
Steve Waugh, co-owner, Amsterdam Franchise said,
“I’ve always been selective about where I invest my time and energy in cricket.
Franchise cricket has expanded quickly, but this opportunity stood out because
it is driven by aspiration and long-term thinking. In many ways, it marks a
return to the game for me — but in a very different role. This is about helping
uphold the standards and spirit of cricket while supporting its growth into
Europe, which remains the game’s last great frontier.”
Glenn Maxwell, co-owner, Belfast Franchise said:
I am thrilled to be involved with the Irish Wolves, where we will build a
culture of fun, family and playing without fear. The Irish people love their
sport and Cricket Ireland have made huge strides in expanding the game over the
last two decades. The Wolves and the European T20 Premier League will
accelerate that growth and I feel super proud to be leading the franchise in
its inaugural year.”
“The opportunity to be part of franchise ownership
in a league built with strong governance and deep board partnerships is hugely
compelling,” *said Kyle Mills, co- owner, Edinburgh Franchise. “ETPL has all
the ingredients to become a serious force in global cricket.”
ETPL is owned and operated through a joint venture
between Rules Global (“Rules X”) and Cricket Ireland, a Full Member of the
International Cricket Council. The league is co-founded by Abhishek Bachchan,
Saurav Banerjee, Priyanka Kaul and Dhiraj Malhotra, and is further supported
through formal partnerships with Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket
Association (KNCB).
Abhishek Bachchan, co-founder of ETPL, acclaimed
Indian actor and sports entrepreneur. “My journey across sport has taught me
that meaningful franchises are built with intent, integrity and vision; and
these three teams represent exactly that. Anchored in strong partnerships with
national boards and the greats of the game, ETPL will bring together
established international stars alongside emerging talent from Europe and other
associate nations, while upholding the highest standards of governance, transparency
and sporting integrity, setting a new benchmark for emerging franchise
leagues.”
Saurav Banerjee, Co-Founder, European T20 Premier
League (ETPL), said: “Europe is home to nearly one-third of the ICC’s global
membership, with 34 member nations across the continent, the largest
concentration anywhere in the world. Much of Europe’s cricketing ecosystem
remains under-commercialised, presenting a significant opportunity for
structured growth. ETPL is Europe’s first ICC-sanctioned T20 league, designed
to unlock this untapped potential. Through professional governance, a
franchise-based structure and long-term discipline, ETPL aims to catalyse
sustainable commercial growth and elevate European cricket on the global
stage.”
As European cricket continues to gather momentum
marked by Italy qualifying for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, and England,
Ireland and Scotland hosting the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Europe is positioned
to play a defining role in shaping the next decade of the sport.
Brian MacNeice, Chair, European T20 Premier League
and non-executive Director on the Board of Cricket Ireland, said: “The launch
of the European T20 Premier League is not only a landmark occasion for European
cricket, but is a crucial step forward in the development and growth of Irish
cricket. Since gaining Full Membership, we have made steady and sustainable
steps forward as a sport – but over the next few years we are set for an
enormous leap.
Trudy Lindblade, CEO of Cricket Scotland, added: “We are delighted to welcome the first three ETPL franchise owners. This league
represents a significant step forward for European cricket, and we appreciate
the role played by our all stakeholders in creating a truly exciting and
groundbreaking opportunity for all involved, in particular Scottish players and
supporters of cricket in this country,
Lucas Hendriske, interim CEO of KNCB said: “The
launch of the European T20 Premier League will be a landmark moment for cricket
in Europe. The League will accelerate the growth of cricket across the region
by providing visibility, high-performance standards, and inspiration for the
next generation. We are delighted to see Europe take this step forward and
proud that the Netherlands will play a central role in shaping its future.”
Backed by credibility and excellence at the highest
levels, ETPL will bring emerging talent to the global stage, competing
alongside the biggest names in international cricket. Season 1, slated for the
end of August this year, will bring together world-class international
experience, emerging European talent, and a technology-led league structure
designed to redefine how cricket is played, consumed, and scaled across
markets.
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