The cricketing world is buzzing as the European T20 Premier League (ETPL), an ICC-sanctioned competition, officially announced the owners of its inaugural three franchises. The landmark unveiling took place at an international press conference in Sydney, Australia, against the iconic backdrop of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. This significant milestone sets the stage for the league's debut season, slated for late summer 2026.
ETPL: A New Era for European Cricket The ETPL aims to revolutionize the cricket landscape in Europe, providing a robust platform for both established international stars and emerging local talent. Co-founded by actor and sports entrepreneur Abhishek Bachchan, Saurav Banerjee, Priyanka Kaul, and Dhiraj Malhotra, the league emphasizes strong governance, integrity, and a long-term vision for the sport's expansion.
Inaugural Franchises and Their Star-Studded Owners The first three cities to secure an ETPL franchise are Amsterdam, Edinburgh, and Belfast, each backed by a formidable consortium of international sports personalities and business leaders:
* Amsterdam Franchise: This team will be owned by a group spearheaded by former Australian captain and World Cup winner Steve Waugh. He is joined by Olympic gold medallist and five-time World Player of the Year Jamie Dwyer, and Tim Thomas, former CEO of the Centre for Australia-India Relations. * Edinburgh Franchise: Former New Zealand internationals Nathan McCullum and Kyle Mills have secured the Edinburgh franchise. Both bring extensive experience from top-tier international cricket and high-performance systems. * Belfast Franchise: Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell takes ownership of the Belfast team, alongside former NRMA Group CEO Rohan Lund and other strategic partners to be announced soon.
Vision and Statements from Key Figures The announcement was met with enthusiasm from the new owners, highlighting their commitment to the league's long-term success and the growth of cricket in Europe:
* Steve Waugh (Amsterdam): Emphasized the project's long-term vision and its opportunity to support cricket's expansion in Europe while upholding the sport's core values. * Glenn Maxwell (Belfast): Expressed his aim to build a culture of enjoyment, fearlessness, and community, contributing to the steady growth of cricket in Ireland. * Kyle Mills (Edinburgh): Praised ETPL's strong governance and board partnerships, foreseeing its potential to become a significant force in global cricket. * Abhishek Bachchan (Co-founder, ETPL): Stated that meaningful franchises are built on intent, integrity, and vision. He highlighted ETPL’s goal to blend international and emerging European talent with high standards of governance. * Saurav Banerjee (Co-founder, ETPL): Pointed out Europe’s under-commercialized cricket ecosystem, which accounts for nearly one-third of the ICC's global membership, and explained ETPL's design to unlock this potential.
Partnerships and Future Outlook ETPL is a joint venture between Rules Global (Rules X) and Cricket Ireland, an ICC full member. The league also boasts formal partnerships with Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association (KNCB). Officials from these boards welcomed the announcement, recognizing it as a crucial step towards accelerating cricket’s development across Europe.
With European nations gaining significant momentum on the global cricketing stage, including Italy's qualification for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 and multiple European countries set to host upcoming ICC events, the ETPL is strategically positioned to support the region's next phase of cricketing evolution. The inaugural season is eagerly anticipated to commence in the final week of August 2026, promising thrilling T20 action and unprecedented growth for cricket across the continent.
