Abhishek Bachchan unveils first three franchises of European T20 Premier League

The League confirmed Amsterdam, Edinburgh, and Belfast as the first franchise cities to join the competition, which is scheduled to begin in late summer 2026.

• ETPL announces Amsterdam, Edinburgh, and Belfast as first franchise cities
• Steve Waugh, Glenn Maxwell, and Kyle Mills among franchise owners
• League's inaugural season set for late August 2026

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The European T20 Premier League (ETPL), officially sanctioned by the International Cricket Council (ICC), today announced the owners of its first three franchises at an international press conference in Sydney, held 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 late summer 2026.

Amsterdam will be owned by a group led by Australian cricket legend Steve Waugh, former Australian captain and World Cup-winning leader, alongside Jamie Dwyer, five-time World Player of the Year and Olympic gold medallist, and Tim Thomas, former CEO of the Centre for Australia-India Relations and former Partner at KPMG Australia.

Edinburgh will be owned by former New Zealand internationals Nathan McCullum, former New Zealand international and high-performance cricket coach, and Kyle Mills, former New Zealand fast bowler and former ICC No.1 ODI bowler.

Belfast will be owned by Australian all-rounder “The Big Show” Glenn Maxwell, global T20 star, together with Rohan Lund, former Group CEO of NRMA, alongside strategic partners to be announced in due course.

The announcement marks a defining moment in the evolution of professional cricket in Europe and represents the first phase of ETPL’s franchise rollout ahead of its inaugural season, scheduled to commence in the last week of August.

Abhishek Bachchan, co-founder of ETPL and acclaimed Indian actor and sports entrepreneur, said, “My journey across sport has taught me that meaningful franchises are built with intent, integrity and vision; and these three teams represent exactly that. 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.”

Glenn Maxwell, co-owner of the Belfast Franchise, said, “I am thrilled to be involved with the Irish Wolves, where we will build a culture of fun, family and playing without fear. 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.”

“The opportunity to be part of franchise ownership in a league built with strong governance and deep board partnerships is hugely compelling,” said Kyle Mills, co-owner of the Edinburgh Franchise. “ETPL has all the ingredients to become a serious force in global cricket.”

ETPL is owned and operated through a joint venture between Rules Global (“Rules X”) and Cricket Ireland, a Full Member of the International Cricket Council. The league is co-founded by Abhishek Bachchan, Saurav Banerjee, Priyanka Kaul, and Dhiraj Malhotra, and is further supported through formal partnerships with Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association (KNCB).

As European cricket continues to gain momentum, marked by Italy qualifying for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, and England, Ireland, and Scotland hosting the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Europe is positioned to play a defining role in shaping the next decade of the sport.

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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 occasion for European cricket, but is a crucial step forward in the development and growth of Irish cricket. Since gaining Full Membership, we have made steady and sustainable steps forward as a sport – but over the next few years we are set for an enormous leap.”

Backed by credibility and excellence at the highest levels, ETPL will bring emerging talent to the global stage, competing alongside the biggest names in international cricket. Season 1, slated for the end of August this year, will bring together world-class international experience, emerging European talent, and a technology-led league structure designed to redefine how cricket is played, consumed, and scaled across markets.