European T20 Premier League (ETPL) guide, including teams, format, schedules, and key developments across European cricket
Last updated: May 2026
European T20 Premier League (ETPL): Teams, Format & 2026 Schedule
European T20 Premier League (ETPL) is a new professional Twenty20 cricket competition scheduled to launch in August 2026. The league is designed as a city-based franchise tournament focused on growing elite cricket and commercial engagement across Europe.
The Rise of ETPL: ETPL is strategically scheduled to fill gaps in the global cricket calendar, attracting fans from both Europe and the international diaspora. Leveraging ICC sanctioning, partnerships with Cricket Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands, and a mix of local and international stars. As a result, the ETPL represents a new era of cricket, combining sport, entertainment, and community engagement.
Cricket News
Confirmed ETPL Franchises 2026
All six ETPL franchises have been confirmed for the inaugural 2026 season, running from 26 August to 20 September 2026 across multiple European host cities.
Home: Netherlands | Status: Confirmed ✅
The Flames are one of the three founding ETPL franchises. The squad includes Australia T20I captain Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, power-hitter Tim David, Scott Edwards (Netherlands captain and first European player signed by any ETPL franchise), and vice-captain Bas de Leede.
Key Players
Mitchell Marsh
Australia · T20I captain
Steve Smith
Australia
Tim David
Singapore / Australia
Scott Edwards
Netherlands captain · First European signing
Bas de Leede
Netherlands · All-rounder · Vice-captain
Ownership
Home: Scotland | Status: Confirmed ✅
Edinburgh’s franchise is owned by a New Zealand-based consortium led by former internationals Kyle Mills and Nathan McCullum, in partnership with Otago Cricket. Confirmed signings include Mitchell Santner as captain and Scotland’s Brandon McMullen.
Key Players
Mitchell Santner
New Zealand · Captain
Brandon McMullen
Scotland
Ownership
Home: Northern Ireland | Status: Confirmed ✅
The Belfast franchise brings professional city-based T20 cricket to Northern Ireland for the first time. Australian international Glenn Maxwell joins as co-owner and player alongside Rohan Lund of Floodlight Capital. Maxwell is a member of Australia’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup-winning squad of 2021 and one of the most destructive all-rounders in the modern game.
Key Players
Glenn Maxwell
Australia · Owner-player · ICC T20 World Cup winner 2021
Ownership
Home: Scotland | Status: Confirmed ✅
The Glasgow Cosmic franchise is owned by the Mugafi Group with Tansha Batra. Chris Gayle serves as co-owner and global ETPL ambassador. Squad signings are yet to be confirmed.
Key Players
Squad to be announced.
Ownership
⚓ Rotterdam Dockers — Netherlands
Home: Netherlands | Status: Confirmed ✅
The Rotterdam Dockers are owned by a South African-led consortium. Faf du Plessis is confirmed as captain. Further squad signings to be announced.
Key Players
Faf du Plessis
South Africa · Captain
Ownership
Home: Ireland | Status: Confirmed ✅
The Dublin Guardians are owned by a consortium led by Rahul Dravid. Squad signings are yet to be confirmed ahead of the inaugural season.
Key Players
Squad to be announced.
Ownership
This page will be updated as squad announcements are made.
🔔 Get notified when squads are announcedETPL Format & Schedule 2026
🗓️ ETPL Starts: 26 August 2026
The inaugural season will be staged across grounds in Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands, with the final hosting plan to be confirmed in the weeks before the tournament.
26 Aug
Start Date
6
City Franchises
33
Matches
T20
Format
$1.5M
Salary Cap / Season
The tournament will feature 33 matches across six city-based franchises from 26 August to 20 September 2026. The ETPL uses the Twenty20 format with matches limited to 20 overs per side across multiple European host cities.
The tournament is ICC-sanctioned and structured to sit within the global T20 calendar, avoiding overlap with major international events to maximise player availability. Each franchise operates with a salary budget of approximately $1.5 million per season, with franchise rights sold for $15 million over ten years.
đź“‹ Full match-by-match fixtures will be published here as confirmed by the league. Sign up to be notified the moment the schedule drops.
đź””Key People Behind the ETPL
Abhishek Bachchan
Co-founder and co-owner. Bollywood actor and one of the principal driving forces behind the league’s launch.
Steve Waugh
Former Australia captain and franchise investor. Cited the league’s long-term European vision as key to his involvement.
Glenn Maxwell
Irish Wolves co-owner and player. ICC Men’s T20 World Cup winner 2021.
Kyle Mills
Edinburgh Castle Rockers co-owner. Former New Zealand fast bowler and ex-ICC No.1 ranked ODI bowler.
Where to Watch the European T20 Premier League (UK)
Matches from the European T20 Premier League are expected to be available via official broadcast and streaming partners in the United Kingdom. Viewers in the UK are likely to watch via major sports‑streaming and pay‑TV platforms, with full details to be confirmed closer to the tournament start.
Why ETPL matters for European cricket
European cricket participation and viewership have grown steadily over the past decade, driven by diaspora communities, domestic leagues, and increased international exposure. However, Europe has lacked a top-tier professional franchise competition with a clear regional focus.
ETPL is positioned to address this gap by providing a consistent, high-visibility platform for elite cricket in Europe, supporting player development, commercial partnerships, and fan engagement across multiple markets.
Viewership Highlights (Dec 2025)
- Cricket is the second most-watched sport worldwide with 2.5 billion fans.
- Asia dominates viewership, with India and Pakistan leading globally.
- UK and Australia remain strong cricket markets with high per-capita engagement.
- South Africa anchors African viewership, though smaller compared to Asia.
Comparison Table
| Country/Region | Estimated Audience | Key Insights |
|---|---|---|
 India (Asia)
|
~1 billion+ | India dominates global cricket viewership. The 2023 World Cup final drew 300M live viewers. |
 Pakistan (Asia)
|
~150–200 million | Record-breaking broadcast numbers during ICC tournaments. |
 United Kingdom (Europe)
|
~30–40 million | Strong following during Ashes and ICC events. |
 Australia (Oceania)
|
~25–30 million | Big Bash League and internationals drive viewership. |
 South Africa (Africa)
|
~20–25 million | Leads African cricket viewership, with growth in Kenya and Zimbabwe. |
Betting and ETPL (UK and EU context)
Cricket betting markets for European competitions are offered by licensed operators in the UK and EU, subject to local regulation and consumer protection rules and at present UK players can bet on the IPL and other leagues here.
Betting markets for the European T20 Premier League (ETPL) are expected to become available closer to the league’s launch and may include match odds, player performance markets, and tournament outcomes, depending on operator coverage.
All betting-related content on Cricket Enthusiast is provided for informational purposes only and is restricted to users aged 18 and over.
For an explanation of how cricket betting odds work, including live betting and odds movement, see our Cricket Betting Guide .
