The European T20 Premier League (ETPL), officially sanctioned by the ICC, has announced the owners of its first three franchises, marking a significant step in the launch of Europe’s first ICC-approved T20 league. The announcement was made at an international press conference in Sydney, against the backdrop of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, with Amsterdam, Edinburgh and Belfast confirmed as the league’s inaugural franchise cities ahead of a late-summer 2026 start.
The Amsterdam franchise will be led by Australian great Steve Waugh, alongside Olympic gold medallist Jamie Dwyer and former KPMG Australia partner Tim Thomas. Waugh described the opportunity as a return to the game in a new role, emphasising long-term thinking and the growth of cricket in Europe.
Former New Zealand internationals Nathan McCullum and Kyle Mills will own the Edinburgh franchise, with Mills highlighting the league’s governance and structure as key strengths.
The Belfast franchise has been acquired by Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, alongside former NRMA Group CEO Rohan Lund. Maxwell said the franchise would be built on a culture of freedom and enjoyment, while accelerating cricket’s growth in Ireland.
ETPL is owned through a joint venture between Rules Global and Cricket Ireland, and is co-founded by Abhishek Bachchan, Saurav Banerjee, Priyanka Kaul and Dhiraj Malhotra, with support from Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association.
With European cricket gaining momentum ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, ETPL aims to combine elite international experience with emerging European talent, positioning itself as a key driver of the sport’s next phase of growth.
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