European T20 Premier League unveils first three franchises

European T20 Premier League (ETPL), officially approved by the International Cricket Council (ICC), has unveiled the owners of its first three franchises at an international press conference held in Sydney, set against the iconic Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. The league confirmed Amsterdam, Edinburgh and Belfast as the inaugural franchise cities, with the competition scheduled to launch in late summer 2026.

The Amsterdam franchise will be owned by a consortium led by Australian cricket legend Steve Waugh, former Australia captain and World Cup-winning leader, along with Jamie Dwyer, a 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.

The Edinburgh team will be jointly owned by former New Zealand internationals Nathan McCullum, a former New Zealand player and high-performance cricket coach, and Kyle Mills, ex-New Zealand fast bowler and former ICC No.1-ranked ODI bowler.

The Belfast franchise will be owned by Australian all-rounder and global T20 star Glenn “The Big Show” Maxwell, in partnership with Rohan Lund, former Group CEO of NRMA, along with additional strategic partners to be announced at a later stage.

The announcement represents a significant milestone in the development of professional cricket in Europe and marks the first phase of ETPL’s franchise rollout ahead of its inaugural season, which is set to begin in the final week of August.

Steve Waugh, co-owner of the Amsterdam franchise, said, “I’ve always been selective about where I commit my time and energy in cricket. While franchise cricket has grown rapidly, this opportunity stood out because it is built on aspiration and long-term vision. In many ways, it feels like a return to the game for me, but in a very different capacity. This is about upholding the spirit and standards of cricket while helping drive its growth across Europe, which remains the game’s last great frontier.”

Glenn Maxwell, co-owner of the Belfast franchise, said, “I’m excited to be involved with the Irish Wolves, where we aim to create a culture centred on enjoyment, family and fearless cricket. The Irish sporting community is deeply passionate, and Cricket Ireland has made remarkable progress in growing the game over the past two decades. The Wolves and the European T20 Premier League will accelerate that momentum, and I’m incredibly proud to lead the franchise in its debut season.”

“The chance to be part of franchise ownership in a league founded on strong governance and robust board partnerships is extremely compelling,” said Kyle Mills, co-owner of the Edinburgh franchise. “ETPL has all the elements required to become a serious contender in the global cricket ecosystem.”

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, said, “My journey across sport has shown me that meaningful franchises are built on intent, integrity and vision, and these three teams embody exactly that. Anchored by strong partnerships with national boards and legends of the game, ETPL will unite established international stars with emerging talent from Europe and other associate nations, while maintaining the highest standards of governance, transparency and sporting integrity, setting a new benchmark for emerging franchise leagues.”

Saurav Banerjee, Co-Founder of the European T20 Premier League, said, “Europe accounts for nearly one-third of the ICC’s global membership, with 34 member nations across the continent—the highest concentration anywhere in the world. Much of Europe’s cricketing ecosystem remains under-commercialised, presenting a major 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 model and long-term discipline, ETPL aims to drive sustainable commercial growth and elevate European cricket on the global stage.”

As European cricket continues to gain momentum—highlighted by Italy’s qualification for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, and England, Ireland and Scotland hosting the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup—Europe is increasingly positioned to shape the next decade of the sport.

Brian MacNeice, Chair of the 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 moment for European cricket, but also a crucial step in the continued development of Irish cricket. Since achieving Full Membership, we have made steady and sustainable progress, but the coming years promise a significant leap forward.”

Trudy Lindblade, CEO of Cricket Scotland, added, “We are delighted to welcome the first three ETPL franchise owners. This league marks a major step forward for European cricket, and we appreciate the role played by all stakeholders in creating a truly exciting and groundbreaking opportunity, particularly for Scottish players and cricket supporters across the country.”

Lucas Hendriske, Interim CEO of KNCB, said, “The launch of the European T20 Premier League will be a defining moment for cricket in Europe. The league will accelerate regional growth by offering greater visibility, high-performance benchmarks and inspiration for the next generation. We are pleased to see Europe take this step forward and proud that the Netherlands will play a central role in shaping the league’s future.”

Backed by credibility and excellence at the highest levels, ETPL aims to showcase emerging talent on the global stage alongside some of the biggest names in international cricket. Season 1, scheduled for the end of August this year, will bring together world-class international experience, rising European players and a technology-led league structure designed to redefine how cricket is played, consumed and scaled across markets.