Cricket is set for a massive expansion across the continent as legends of the game and Bollywood royalty team up to launch the European T20 Premier League (ETPL). This ambitious project, sanctioned by the ICC, will see the likes of Steve Smith and Mitchell Marsh take the field in a tournament spanning Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands.
Scheduled to run from August 26 to September 20, 2026, the ETPL isn’t just another franchise tournament; it’s a strategic move to turn Europe into a global cricket hub. The league is a joint venture between Cricket Ireland and Rules Global (Rules X), supported by Cricket Scotland and the KNCB (Netherlands).
Star-Studded Ownership and Franchise Breakdown
The league’s ownership group reads like a “who’s who” of sports and entertainment. Australian icon Steve Waugh makes his first major foray into cricket since retiring two decades ago as a co-owner of the Amsterdam Flames. Joining the ownership ranks is current Aussie star Glenn Maxwell, who will co-own the Irish Wolves, and Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan, a co-founder of the league with extensive experience in sports franchises like the Pro Kabaddi League and ISL.
The tournament features six franchises in total. While three are already sold and settled, the remaining three are in the process of finding their homes:
| Franchise Name | Location | Primary Owners |
| Amsterdam Flames | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Steve Waugh & Jamie Dwyer |
| Irish Wolves | Belfast/Dublin, Ireland | Glenn Maxwell & Rohan Lund |
| Edinburgh Franchise | Edinburgh, Scotland | Kyle Mills & Nathan McCullum |
| To Be Announced | Rotterdam, Netherlands | TBD |
| To Be Announced | Glasgow, Scotland | TBD |
| To Be Announced | Dublin, Ireland | TBD |
A New Frontier for European Cricket Development
The ETPL aims to bridge the gap between associate nations and the world’s elite. Steve Waugh emphasized that the league’s core mission is to fast-track the progress of continental players. By sharing a dressing room with stars like Steve Smith, Australia’s T20 captain Mitchell Marsh, and Dutch skipper Scott Edwards, local talent will receive “on-the-job” training that usually takes years to acquire.
Waugh noted that the players he approached were “fascinated” by the project. The timing is particularly relevant given the upcoming T20 World Cup and cricket’s inclusion in the Olympics, providing a massive platform for European sides to prove they belong on the world stage.
While the league faces a potential scheduling clash with the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), the organizers are focused on building a sustainable infrastructure. Abhishek Bachchan confirmed that the league is close to securing an Indian broadcaster and plans to enhance stadium experiences in Dublin and the Netherlands by constructing custom stands. Rather than trying to rival the IPL overnight, the ETPL is adopting a “brick by brick” approach, focusing on atmosphere and player development to ensure the league becomes a permanent fixture on the global cricket calendar.
