European T20 Premier League (ETPL) guide, including teams, format, schedules, and key developments across European cricket
Last updated: March 2026
What is the European T20 Premier League
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
Three of the six ETPL franchises were officially announced at a press conference
in Sydney on 21 January 2026. The remaining three cities: Dublin, Rotterdam,
and Glasgow, are expected to be confirmed ahead of the inaugural season.
Based in Amsterdam, the Flames are one of the three founding franchises.
The squad features Australia’s T20I captain Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith,
power-hitter Tim David, and Scott Edwards, the Netherlands captain and
the first European player signed by any ETPL franchise.
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. Mills is a former ICC No.1 ranked ODI bowler. McCullum is
a high-performance coach and former New Zealand international.
Kyle Mills
Co-owner · Former NZ fast bowler · Ex ICC No.1 ODI bowler
Nathan McCullum
Co-owner · Former NZ international · High-performance coach
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, former Group CEO of NRMA, and
strategic partners to be announced in due course. 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.
Glenn Maxwell
Australia · Co-owner and player · ICC Men’s T20 World Cup winner 2021
Rohan Lund
Co-owner · Former Group CEO, NRMA
Further strategic partners to be announced in due course.
⏳ Remaining Three Franchises
Three further franchises covering Glasgow, Rotterdam, and Dublin are in various stages of confirmation ahead of the inaugural season. This page will be updated as announcements are made.
Glasgow
Scotland
Ownership deal agreed with a consortium led by former India coach Rahul Dravid and R. Ashwin. Team name and branding pending formal announcement.
Rotterdam
Netherlands
Ownership deal agreed with a South African group led by Faf du Plessis, Heinrich Klaasen, and Jonty Rhodes. Branding and squad to follow.
Dublin
Ireland
The only franchise not yet sold. Strong interest reported from multiple investor groups including some linked with The Hundred franchises.
Inaugural season hosted across the Netherlands and Ireland
26 Aug
Start Date
6
City Franchises
34
Matches
T20
Format
$1.5M
Salary Cap / Season
The ETPL uses the Twenty20 format with matches limited to 20 overs per side.
The inaugural season will be played across two regions, the Netherlands and
Ireland, with games hosted at grounds across Scotland, Northern Ireland,
and the Netherlands.
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.
📋 Full match-by-match fixtures will be published here as confirmed by
the league. Sign up to be notified the moment the schedule drops.
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
Belfast 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.
One of the platforms covering major international and franchise cricket is DAZN.
Streaming availability may vary by match and region. DAZN is a
subscription-based sports streaming service. iAffiliate disclosure:
We earn a commission if you sign up via links on this site, at no cost to you.
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.
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
.
Data powered by Oddspedia
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India (Asia)
Pakistan (Asia)
United Kingdom (Europe)
Australia (Oceania)
South Africa (Africa)
