The European T20 Premier League has unveiled the first three franchise owners ahead of its inaugural season in 2026, confirming Amsterdam, Edinburgh and Belfast as the league’s foundation cities.
The ICC-sanctioned competition is co-founded by Abhishek Bachchan alongside Saurav Banerjee, Priyanka Kaul and Dhiraj Malhotra, and is backed by Cricket Ireland in partnership with Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association. The league will begin in late summer next year.
Amsterdam’s franchise will be led by Australian great Steve Waugh, marking his return to the professional game in an ownership role. Belfast has been secured by Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, while Edinburgh will be guided by former New Zealand internationals Nathan McCullum and Kyle Mills.
The announcement was made at an international media event in Sydney, signalling the first phase of the league’s franchise rollout.
Speaking on the vision behind the competition, Bachchan said the league was being built with a long-term outlook. “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.”
For Waugh, the decision to invest reflected both caution and ambition. “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,” he said. “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.”
Maxwell said the Belfast project carried a strong cultural focus. “I am thrilled to be involved with the Irish Wolves, where we will build a culture of fun, family and playing without fear,” he said. “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.”
From the Edinburgh camp, Mills highlighted the structure behind the league. “The opportunity to be part of franchise ownership in a league built with strong governance and deep board partnerships is hugely compelling,” he said. “ETPL has all the ingredients to become a serious force in global cricket.”
Europe currently accounts for nearly a third of the ICC’s global membership, with 34 nations across the continent. The league’s backers believe the combination of city-based franchises, international ownership and alignment with national boards can help convert that footprint into sustained professional pathways for players.
With its first franchises now confirmed and a launch window set for August 2026, the European T20 Premier League is positioning itself as a structured addition to the global calendar, aimed at lifting the profile of the game across Europe while remaining closely tied to its governing institutions.
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