About European T20 Premier League
ETPL: A New Powerhouse in World Cricket
The European T20 Premier League (ETPL) an upcoming franchise tournament sanctioned by the International Cricket Council (ICC), designed to place Europe firmly on cricket’s global map. A first-of-its-kind collaboration between the cricket boards of Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands, ETPL blends the proud cricketing traditions of these nations with the ambition to grow the game across the continent.
ETPL announces first three franchises
On 21 January 2026, the ETPL announced the owners of its first three franchises at an international press conference in Sydney, staged against the iconic backdrop of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. The League confirmed Amsterdam, Edinburgh and Belfast as the first franchise cities to join the competition which is scheduled to begin in the late summer of 2026.
When and where will the first season take place?
The ETPL is primed to begin on 26 August 2026 and it'll be played across two regions in Netherlands and Ireland in its inaugural season.
Amsterdam Flames
Australia legend and former World Cup winning captain, Steve Waugh, is among the franchise owners unveiled for the inaugural ETPL, owning the Amsterdam-based team alongside Olympic gold medallist Jamie Dwyer and Australian businessman Tim Thomas, as the league revealed its first three franchises on Wednesday in Sydney.
The Amsterdam franchise have also roped in Australia's T20I skipper Mitchell Marsh, giving the team global recognition as the ETPL prepares for its debut season later this year. Australian teammates Steve Smith, Tim David have also signed with the franchise. Scott Edwards, the Netherlands captain, became the first European player to be roped in by Amsterdam Flames.
Edinburgh Castlerockers
Scotland will be represented in the inaugural ETPL by the Edinburgh franchise, which is owned by a New Zealand–based consortium led by former internationals Kyle Mills and Nathan McCullum.
Mills, a former New Zealand fast bowler, was ranked ICC No.1 in ODI bowling during his international career, while McCullum is a former New Zealand international and established high-performance coach. The ownership group is working in collaboration with Otago Cricket, one of New Zealand’s major domestic associations.
Otago Cricket brings a strong community-driven and high-performance model, aligned with Cricket Scotland’s development objectives, as the Edinburgh franchise prepares for its debut season in the ETPL later this year.
BlackCaps skipper, Mitchell Santner, was announced as their first signing by the franchise.
Belfast Wolves
The Belfast franchise has been unveiled as one of the teams for the inaugural ETPL, bringing city-based professional T20 cricket to Northern Ireland for the first time.
Australian international Glenn Maxwell will play a central role in the franchise, joining as a co-owner and will double up as player in the franchise. Following a decorated career across international and global T20 competitions. A member of Australia’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup-winning squad in 2021, Maxwell is widely regarded as one of the most dynamic all-rounders in the modern game.
The Belfast franchise is owned by the Floodlight Capital Consortium, led by former NRMA Group chief executive Rohan Lund, with strategic partnerships to be announced in due course as preparations continue for the league’s debut season later this year.
The ETPL Explained
