Dublin: European T20 Premier League set to launch with international players
European T20 Premier League Inaugural Season
The European T20 Premier League (ETPL) is preparing for its inaugural season, featuring six franchise teams from Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands. The competition will include two Irish teams, the Dublin Guardians and Belfast Wolves, alongside teams from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam. The first ball of the tournament is scheduled for 26 August 2026, with the final set for 20 September 2026.
The league aims to develop European cricket, with investors expressing optimism about its potential. Cricket Ireland, the sport’s governing body in the region, has been working towards establishing a city-based competition since 2019. Previous attempts, such as the Euro Slam, faced postponements due to a lack of investment and other challenges, including a High Court case that was struck out in July.
The ETPL has secured investment for five of the six franchises, with the league stepping in as owners for Edinburgh’s Castle Rockers after proposed owners withdrew. The league’s name was changed to ETPL following the involvement of new partners, an Indian-based group that includes Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan.
Teams and Players
Each of the six franchises is required to have a minimum of seven local players from Ireland, Scotland, or the Netherlands. Additionally, each team must include one player from a European nation outside these three boards. The remaining player slots can be filled by overseas players from any country.
The inaugural edition of the ETPL is expected to feature several prominent international players. Some of the overseas players slated to participate include:
- Glenn Maxwell
- Steve Smith
- David Miller
- Ravi Ashwin
- Trent Boult
- Alex Roy
- Faf Du Plessis
Glenn Maxwell is also involved as a player-owner for the Belfast Wolves. Former Indian batter Rahul Dravid leads the Dublin consortium for the Dublin Guardians.
Venues and Schedule
The tournament will begin at Voorburg Cricket Club in the Netherlands, which will host the opening 17 matches. Following this initial phase, the competition will move to Malahide Cricket Club in Dublin, Ireland. Malahide will host the latter part of the league stage, the Qualifier on 19 September, and the Final on 20 September.
Administration delays have led to a rush to finalise arrangements for the league’s launch. The approval from the International Cricket Council, the global governing body, was received recently. While Clontarf Cricket Club was initially considered as a venue and received investment for its facilities, the league decided to use only Malahide in Dublin for the first year, providing Clontarf with a good-faith payment of €7,500.
Financial Aspects and Future Outlook
A Dublin-based professional sports franchise has valued itself at $30 million (€25.7 million) after raising close to $10 million in equity. Team owners are required to pay the league $1.5 million annually as a franchise fee and spend a similar amount on player salaries. This is considered an inexpensive investment compared to franchises in other countries.
Investors acknowledge that the initial year may involve minimal revenue, with some teams lacking sponsors and insufficient time to leverage proper value. The league is contributing to production costs for broadcasters rather than securing lucrative rights deals, with advertising revenue to be shared. Some teams also did not have time to organise merchandise for sale.
Despite these challenges, investors remain optimistic about the long-term potential. Vipul Agrawal, chairman of the Glasgow Cosmic, highlighted Europe’s population and the accessibility of cricket as factors for growth. Ajit Ravindran, chief executive of the Dublin Guardians, pointed to cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 Olympics as an opportunity to create commercial value. Neil Maxwell, an investor and CEO of Belfast Wolves, estimates it will take his group three to five years to see a return on investment. The first ball will be bowled on 26 August 2026.
Source: cricketireland.ie
