A new European franchise era begins with three headline cities
European cricket’s long-running search for a sustainable, elite-level franchise platform has taken a major step forward with the European T20 Premier League (ETPL) officially revealing the owners of its first three teams.
🚨 𝐅𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐃 🚨
The wait is over.
Three franchises. One historic moment.
A new chapter for European cricket begins today!
The ETPL proudly welcomes its first 3 franchises, officially unveiled at an international press conference in Sydney. pic.twitter.com/0Y7Si9dp6E
— European T20 Premier League (ETPL) (@etplofficial) January 20, 2026
The league confirmed Amsterdam, Edinburgh and Belfast as the first franchise cities for its inaugural season, with the announcement made at an international press conference in Sydney staged against the backdrop of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
Amsterdam: Steve Waugh, Jamie Dwyer & Tim Thomas
Edinburgh: Nathan McCullum & Kyle Mills
Belfast: Glenn Maxwell & Rohan Lund pic.twitter.com/XCb9XYnQ8A— European T20 Premier League (ETPL) (@etplofficial) January 20, 2026
With the ETPL set to begin in late summer 2026, the first wave of ownership signals an early blend of global star power, board-backed structure, and a deliberate attempt to build a serious multi-nation league in Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands.
Who owns the first three ETPL franchises
The Amsterdam franchise will be owned by a group led by former Australia captain Steve Waugh, alongside Jamie Dwyer and Tim Thomas.
Waugh framed his entry into franchise ownership as a selective, long-term commitment to building something lasting, saying in an official statement, “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.”
Edinburgh will be owned by former New Zealand internationals Nathan McCullum and Kyle Mills, while Belfast will be owned by Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell along with Rohan Lund, with strategic partners expected to be announced later.
For Maxwell, the Belfast project is positioned as both a cricketing and cultural opportunity, with a focus on identity and playing style. In an official statement, he said, “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 have 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.”
Why the league believes Europe is ready for franchise cricket
The ETPL is officially sanctioned by the International Cricket Council and is owned and operated through a joint venture between Rules Global (Rules X) and Cricket Ireland, with formal partnerships involving Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association (KNCB).
League co-founder Saurav Banerjee outlined the commercial logic behind targeting Europe as the next major growth market, saying in an official statement, “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. Much of Europe’s cricketing ecosystem remains under-commercialised, presenting a significant 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 structure and long-term discipline, ETPL aims to catalyse sustainable commercial growth and elevate European cricket on the global stage.”
The timing of the league’s push also comes with growing momentum for European cricket, including Italy qualifying for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and the region’s increasing role in major ICC event hosting cycles.
The ownership pitch: governance, credibility and long-term ambition
For the Edinburgh franchise, Kyle Mills highlighted governance and board alignment as the key pull rather than short-term hype. In an official statement, he said, “The opportunity to be part of franchise ownership in a league built with strong governance and deep board partnerships is hugely compelling,” before adding, “ETPL has all the ingredients to become a serious force in global cricket.”
The league’s leadership has repeatedly emphasised that credibility, transparency, and sporting integrity are central to its positioning, particularly in a crowded global franchise calendar.
Abhishek Bachchan, a co-founder of the ETPL, placed the early franchise rollout within a wider blueprint for standards and talent development, saying in an official statement, “My journey across sport has taught me that meaningful franchises are built with intent, integrity and vision; and these three teams represent exactly that. Anchored in strong partnerships with national boards and the greats of the game, 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.”
Star signings add immediate weight to the Amsterdam project
Beyond ownership, the early player commitments have added immediate global attention to the Amsterdam franchise.
Mitchell Marsh and Steve Smith have been signed as overseas players for the team led by Waugh, giving the league a high-profile talent base even before its first ball is bowled. Reports have also indicated Tim David is among the names linked to the project, underlining the league’s intent to attract elite T20 performers.
The Amsterdam franchise is expected to be named the Amsterdam Flames, while Belfast is expected to be called the Irish Wolves and Edinburgh the Castle Rockers.
Franchise expansion and investment signals to watch
While the first three teams have now been confirmed, the ETPL’s rollout is only in its opening phase.
The league is expected to expand to six franchises, with Dublin, Glasgow and Rotterdam still to be finalised. BBC Sport understands the franchises were sold for £11.1m ($15m) over a 10-year period.
BBC Sport also reported that deals for the remaining franchises in Dublin, Glasgow and Rotterdam are anticipated to be completed by the end of February, with two likely to be sold to Indian backers and at least one Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise keen to add a side to its global portfolio.
Board backing in Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands
The ETPL’s organisers have presented the league as a development engine for the region, not just a commercial product.
Brian MacNeice, Chair of the European T20 Premier League and a non-executive director on the Cricket Ireland board, said in an official statement, “The launch of the European T20 Premier League is not only a landmark occasion for European cricket, but is a crucial step forward in the development and growth of Irish cricket. Since gaining Full Membership, we have made steady and sustainable steps forward as a sport – but over the next few years we are set for an enormous leap.”
Cricket Scotland CEO Trudy Lindblade also stressed the opportunity for players and supporters in the country, saying in an official statement, “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 all stakeholders in creating a truly exciting and groundbreaking opportunity for all involved, in particular Scottish players and supporters of cricket in this country.”
From the Netherlands, KNCB interim CEO Lucas Hendriske positioned the league as a regional accelerator, saying in an official statement, “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 delighted to see Europe take this step forward and proud that the Netherlands will play a central role in shaping its future.”
The broader vision behind Europe’s next cricket frontier
The ETPL’s ambition goes beyond simply staging matches across three countries.
As cricexec previously reported on the league’s broader strategy, the ETPL is designed as a world class tournament and is being positioned as a long-term professional platform intended to convert Europe’s cricket interest into a sustainable commercial product.
More than 200,000 spectators are projected in season one, with the ETPL positioned as Europe’s first professional cricket league — a sporting carnival of cricket, music, food, and festivals.
For Bachchan, the announcement of the first three franchises is a milestone, but not the finish line. Speaking to BBC Sport, he said, “We are all primed and ready to go but the true hard work starts now,” before adding, “We are very confident of the stakeholders we have on board and expect the ETPL will establish itself in the global ecosystem of franchise tournaments.”
As the countdown to August begins, the ETPL stands poised to reshape cricket’s presence in Europe. With established stars, credible governance, and deep partnerships across nations, the league is not only a platform for high-quality T20 action but a strategic bid to embed cricket more deeply into the continent’s sporting fabric. Its success could mark the start of a new era — one where Europe becomes a lasting home for world-class professional cricket.
