The Belfast franchise has been officially unveiled as part of the inaugural ETPL, marking a significant milestone for professional T20 cricket in Northern Ireland as the city prepares to host one of the competition’s founding teams.

Australian star-allrounder and a bonafide T20 legend Glenn Maxwell will be closely associated with the Belfast franchise, joining as a co-owner and marquee figure ahead of the league’s first season. One of the most influential all-rounders of his generation, Maxwell was part of Australia’s title-winning campaign at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2021 and has built a reputation as a standout performer across franchise leagues worldwide.

The Belfast franchise is owned by the Floodlight Capital Consortium, an investment group led by former NRMA Group chief executive Rohan Lund, with Maxwell joining the consortium as a co-owner. The ownership structure combines experienced commercial leadership with elite on-field insight, providing a strong foundation as the ETPL prepares for its debut season.

Over the course of his career, Maxwell has represented teams in Australia, India, England and the United States, establishing himself as a player capable of transforming matches through power hitting, athletic fielding and tactical awareness. He is among a select group of players to have surpassed 150 in T20 cricket, highlighting his ability to dominate attacks in the shortest format.

The franchise has also confirmed that strategic partnerships aimed at strengthening its high-performance and operational framework will be announced in due course. These collaborations are expected to align the Belfast franchise with established elite cricket systems, ensuring best-practice approaches across coaching, performance and team operations.

The European T20 Premier League will feature six city-based franchises across Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands, with squads expected to include a minimum number of European players. The competition is positioned as both a high-profile professional league and a platform to support the continued growth of cricket across the region.

With Belfast confirmed as a host city and Maxwell’s involvement secured, the franchise is set to be a key presence in the ETPL’s opening chapter.