The European T20 Premier League (ETPL), an ICC-sanctioned competition, has officially unveiled the owners of its first three franchises at an international press conference held in Sydney, Australia. The announcement was made against the backdrop of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, marking a key milestone ahead of the league’s inaugural season, scheduled to begin in late summer 2026.
The first three franchise cities confirmed are Amsterdam, Edinburgh and Belfast, each backed by prominent names from international sport and business.
The Amsterdam franchise will be owned by a group led by former Australian captain and World Cup-winning cricketer Steve Waugh, alongside Olympic gold medallist and five-time World Player of the Year Jamie Dwyer, and Tim Thomas, former CEO of the Centre for Australia-India Relations and ex-partner at KPMG Australia.
The Edinburgh franchise has been secured by former New Zealand internationals Nathan McCullum and Kyle Mills, both of whom bring extensive experience from international cricket and high-performance systems.
Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell will own the Belfast franchise, along with former NRMA Group CEO Rohan Lund and additional strategic partners to be announced later.
Speaking about his association with the Amsterdam team, Steve Waugh said the project stood out for its long-term vision. He described the league as an opportunity to support cricket’s expansion into Europe while maintaining the sport’s core values.
Glenn Maxwell, commenting on his involvement with the Belfast franchise, said the aim was to build a culture rooted in enjoyment, fearlessness and community, while contributing to the steady growth of cricket in Ireland.
Former New Zealand pacer Kyle Mills said ETPL’s emphasis on governance and strong board partnerships made it a compelling proposition, adding that the league has the potential to become a significant force in global cricket.
ETPL is owned and operated through a joint venture between Rules Global (Rules X) and Cricket Ireland, a …read more
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