A new Glasgow-based franchise has been confirmed for the European T20 Premier League, with Abhishek Bachchan backing the competition as it prepares for its first season later this year.
The team, named the Glasgow Mugafians, will represent Scotland in the six-team tournament and is backed by the Mugafi Group, a media and intellectual property company founded by Vipul Agrawal. Ownership sits with Tansha Batra, while former West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle has joined as co-owner and global brand ambassador.
The European T20 Premier League, an ICC-sanctioned competition, is scheduled to run from 26 August to 20 September 2026. Matches will be played across six cities including Glasgow, Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Dublin, Belfast and Rotterdam, with a total of 33 games planned for the inaugural edition.
League organisers see Europe as an underdeveloped market for cricket, with growing interest driven by local participation and South Asian diaspora communities. Bachchan, who is a co-owner of the league, described the region as an area with untapped potential, while also pointing to the commercial opportunity of building a new franchise ecosystem outside traditional cricket centres.
For the Mugafi Group, the Glasgow franchise represents a long-term play on sports media and audience engagement. Agrawal framed the investment in terms of intellectual property and global reach, highlighting cricket’s large and expanding fan base. The company is expected to support the franchise through content production, digital strategy and commercial partnerships.
Batra said the focus would be on giving existing cricket communities in Scotland a more visible platform. Cricket has a long presence in the country, though largely outside mainstream attention. The franchise, she said, aims to connect local participation with a professional structure that can attract wider audiences.
Gayle’s involvement adds a high-profile name to the project. Having played in T20 leagues around the world, he said the European competition could provide opportunities for emerging players while helping raise the profile of the sport in the region. His role is expected to combine promotional duties with broader input into the franchise’s development.
The Glasgow team joins a line-up of franchises linked with well-known figures in international sport. The Amsterdam side is backed by Steve Waugh and Jamie Dwyer, with Mitchell Marsh named as captain. Belfast includes Glenn Maxwell among its co-owners, while the Edinburgh team is supported by Kyle Mills and Nathan McCullum, with Mitchell Santner leading the side.
The league itself is a joint venture between Cricket Ireland and Rules Global, and has been developed in partnership with Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association. It is co-founded by Bachchan alongside Saurav Banerjee, Priyanka Kaul and Dhiraj Malhotra.
While the project has attracted established names and early commercial backing, questions remain about how quickly a European franchise league can build a stable audience and sustain investment. T20 competitions in newer markets have often faced challenges around scheduling, player availability and broadcast reach.
Even so, organisers are pressing ahead with plans to position the league as a new fixture in the global cricket calendar. The Glasgow Mugafians will be one of the early tests of whether that ambition can translate into consistent support on and off the field.
Support independent community journalism. Support The Indian Sun.
Follow The Indian Sun on X | Instagram | Facebook
Support Independent Community Journalism
Dear Reader,The Indian Sun exists for one reason: to tell stories that might otherwise go unheard.
We report on local councils, state politics, small businesses and cultural festivals. We focus on the Indian diaspora and the wider multicultural community with care, balance and accountability. We publish in print and online, send regular newsletters and produce video content. We also run media training programs to help community organisations share their own stories.
We operate independently.
Community journalism does not have the backing of large media corporations. Advertising revenue fluctuates. Platform algorithms change. Costs continue to rise. Yet the need for credible, grounded reporting in a multicultural Australia has never been greater.
When you support The Indian Sun, you support:
• Independent reporting on issues affecting migrant communities
• Coverage of local and state decisions that shape daily life
• A platform for small businesses and community groups
• Media training that builds skills within the community
• Journalism accountable to readers
We cannot cover everything, but we work to cover what matters.
If you value thoughtful reporting that reflects Australia’s diversity, we invite you to contribute. Every donation helps us maintain the quality and consistency of our work.
Please consider making a contribution today.
Thank you for your support.
The Indian Sun Team
