The European T20 Premier League (ETPL), which has been officially approved by the International Cricket Council (ICC), on January 21 unveiled three franchises with some of the renowned faces from world cricket buying their stake. In a press conference in Sydney, the league confirmed Amsterdam, Edinburgh and Belfast as the three franchises.
The league, which is scheduled to launch in late summer 2026, saw the Amsterdam-based franchise go to Australia cricket legend Steve Waugh along with Jamie Dwyer, a 5-time World Player of the Year and Olympic gold medallist and Tim Thomas, former CEO of the Centre for Australia-India Relations. Moreover, the Belfast franchise has been secured by Aussie all-rounder Glenn Maxwell along with Rohan Lund, former Group CEO of NRMA. Additionally, the third franchise, which is the Edinburgh team, has been jointly owned by former New Zealand internationals Nathan McCullum and Kyle Mills.
Steve Waugh to return to cricket with ETPL
Addressing the press conference on Wednesday at the Sydney Opera House, Steve Waugh, co-owner of the Amsterdam franchise, expressed his feelings on his return to the sport which has given him so much recognition. “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,” he said.
Furthermore, ‘The Big Show’ Glenn Maxwell also spoke on his association with the Irish Wolves in the newly launched T20 league. 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.”
Speaking of the European T20 Premier League (ETPL), it comes with European cricket continuously gaining its momentum following Italy’s qualification in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and England, Ireland and Scotland hosting the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup later.
Cricket
Exclusive | 'What was the need to remove Rohit Sharma?' – Manoj Tiwari suggests BCCI sack Shubman Gill as India's ODI captain
