European T20 Premier League (ETPL), officially sanctioned by the International Cricket Council (ICC), has announced Amsterdam, Edinburgh, and Belfast as the first franchise cities to join the competition, set to begin at the end of August this year.
Franchise Ownership Announcements
At an international press conference, the League confirmed the owners of its first three franchises. Amsterdam will be owned by a group led by Australian cricket legend Steve Waugh, alongside five-time World Player of the Year and Olympic gold medallist Jamie Dwyer, and former CEO of the Centre for Australia-India Relations, Tim Thomas.
“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,” Waugh stated.
Edinburgh’s franchise will be owned by former New Zealand internationals Nathan McCullum and Kyle Mills, the latter being a former fast bowler and ICC No.1 ODI bowler.
Belfast will see ownership from Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell and Rohan Lund, a former Group CEO of NRMA.
Defining Moment for European Cricket
This announcement marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of professional cricket in Europe and represents the first phase of ETPL’s franchise rollout ahead of its inaugural season, which is set to commence in the last week of August.
“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 has 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,” said Maxwell.
“The opportunity to be part of franchise ownership in a league built with strong governance and deep board partnerships is hugely compelling. ETPL has all the ingredients to become a serious force in global cricket,” added Mills.
Ownership and Governance
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, with formal partnerships with Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association (KNCB).
Abhishek Bachchan, co-founder of ETPL, is an 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. 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 of the ETPL, mentioned, “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. 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.”
Future of European Cricket
As European cricket continues to gain momentum, highlighted 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 significant role in shaping the sport’s next decade.
Brian MacNeice, Chair of ETPL and non-executive Director on the Board of Cricket Ireland, stated, “The launch of the European T20 Premier League is not only a landmark occasion for European cricket but is also a crucial step forward in the development and growth of Irish cricket. Since gaining Full Membership, we have made steady and sustainable progress as a sport – but over the next few years, we are poised for an enormous leap.”
Trudy Lindblade, CEO of Cricket Scotland, expressed, “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 stakeholders in creating a truly exciting and groundbreaking opportunity for everyone involved, particularly Scottish players and supporters of cricket in this country.”
Lucas Hendriske, interim CEO of KNCB, remarked, “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 excited to see Europe take this step forward and proud that the Netherlands will play a central role in shaping its future.”