The European T20 Premier League (ETPL), officially sanctioned by the International Cricket Council (ICC), has taken a significant step forward by unveiling the owners of its first three franchises in a high-profile announcement staged against the iconic Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. The reveal marks a landmark moment for the league and underlines ETPL’s ambition to establish professional franchise cricket firmly across Europe.
The Amsterdam franchise will be owned by a consortium led by Australian cricket legend Steve Waugh, a former World Cup-winning captain known for his leadership and long-term vision. He is joined by Jamie Dwyer, a five-time World Player of the Year and Olympic gold medallist, and Tim Thomas, former CEO of the Centre for Australia-India Relations and a former KPMG Australia partner.
Together, the group brings elite sporting pedigree and strong governance credentials to the franchise. Edinburgh’s franchise ownership features two prominent former New Zealand internationals. Nathan McCullum, a respected high-performance cricket coach, and Kyle Mills, a former ICC No.1-ranked ODI bowler, will spearhead the Scottish outfit.
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Their involvement adds technical expertise and international experience to the league’s growing structure. The Belfast franchise will be owned by Australian all-rounder and global T20 star Glenn Maxwell, alongside Rohan Lund, former Group CEO of NRMA. Strategic partners for the Belfast team are expected to be announced in due course, further strengthening the franchise’s commercial and sporting foundations.
In an interview I did with Abhishek Bachchan today, he revealed the inspiration behind the creation of the European T20 Premier League @juniorbachchan @etplofficial #ETPL pic.twitter.com/rz3UPpgvnz
— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) January 21, 2026
Europe is getting ready for its own big cricket party. The continent will now have its first-ever franchise-based T20 tournament – the European T20 Premier League – set to begin on August 26.
The six-team competition has some serious star power behind it. Bollywood actor and… pic.twitter.com/K048Dgfg5n
— NDTV (@ndtv) January 21, 2026
With the inaugural season scheduled to begin in the final week of August, this announcement represents the first phase of ETPL’s franchise rollout. The league aims to combine established international stars with emerging European talent, creating a competitive and sustainable ecosystem.
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Speaking on his involvement, Steve Waugh highlighted ETPL’s long-term vision and its potential to expand cricket into Europe, calling it the game’s “last great frontier.” Glenn Maxwell echoed similar sentiments, expressing pride in leading the Belfast franchise and emphasising a culture built on fearlessness, fun and community. Kyle Mills described ETPL as a well-governed project with the potential to become a serious force in global cricket.
ETPL co-founder Abhishek Bachchan summed up the vision, stating that the league is built on intent, integrity and transparency, aiming to set new benchmarks for emerging franchise tournaments worldwide.
