Former Australia captain Steve Waugh has become a key investor in a groundbreaking new men’s franchise competition, the European T20 Premier League (ETPL), marking a significant step in cricket’s expansion across continental Europe.
The city-based tournament will feature teams from Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands, and is scheduled to launch later this year after overcoming delays that initially stalled its 2025 debut.
European T20 Premier League Back on Track
The six-team ETPL was originally due to begin in 2025 but was postponed after franchise sales were not completed in time. Those hurdles have now been cleared, with ownership agreements finalised for three franchises, backed by investor groups from Australia and New Zealand.
BBC Sport understands the franchises were sold for a combined £11.1 million ($15 million) over a 10-year period, highlighting strong long-term belief in the league’s commercial and sporting potential.
The inaugural ETPL season is set to begin on 26 August, with teams operating under a salary cap of approximately £1.1 million ($1.5 million) per season.
Steve Waugh Leads Amsterdam Flames Franchise
Waugh, 60, is heading a consortium that owns the Amsterdam Flames, one of the flagship ETPL teams. The group includes:
- Former Australian Olympic field hockey player Jamie Dwyer
- Australian businessman Tim Thomas
The Flames have already made a statement of intent by signing Australia internationals Steve Smith and Mitch Marsh as overseas players.
“I’m fascinated by the opportunity to take the global game of cricket to continental Europe,” Waugh told BBC Sport.
“This isn’t a Mickey Mouse T20 competition. This is the real deal.”
Waugh added that he would not attach his name or expertise to a project unless he believed in its long-term credibility, noting strong interest from elite players around the world.
Star Power and Global Investment
The ETPL’s ambitions are further underlined by high-profile international involvement. Bollywood actor and producer Abhishek Bachchan is a part-owner of the league in partnership with Rules Sport Tech, a private Indian company.
Bachchan said the league’s standards would be “world class,” adding:
“With the quality of players signing on, everything about the tournament will reflect the highest levels of professionalism.”
The competition is being run in collaboration with the cricket boards of Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands, and has been sanctioned by the International Cricket Council (ICC), which views the ETPL as a key platform for developing cricket across Europe.
Glenn Maxwell, McCullum and Mills Among Franchise Owners
Investment interest extends well beyond Waugh. Glenn Maxwell and his brother Daniel Maxwell are part of the ownership group behind the Belfast-based franchise, expected to be called the Irish Wolves. The consortium also includes Rohan Lund, a former chief executive of a major Australian roadside assistance organisation.
Meanwhile, the Edinburgh franchise, set to be known as the Castle Rockers, has been acquired by a New Zealand consortium led by former Black Caps internationals Kyle Mills and Nathan McCullum, the brother of England head coach Brendon McCullum.
Deals for the remaining teams in Dublin, Glasgow, and Rotterdam are expected to be finalised by the end of February. At least two of those franchises are likely to be sold to Indian investors, with BBC Sport sources indicating that one IPL franchise is keen to expand its global footprint through the ETPL.
Player Availability and Scheduling Challenges
The ETPL calendar presents some logistical challenges. The tournament will:
- Clash with England’s Test series against Pakistan
- Overlap with the Caribbean Premier League (15 August – 22 September)
- Coincide with a block of County Championship fixtures from 20 August
As a result, England multi-format players such as Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, and Jofra Archer are ruled out. However, England players on white-ball-only contracts could be available, subject to No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the ECB.
The 2026 edition of The Hundred, scheduled from late July to mid-August, means there is no direct overlap for white-ball specialists.
Strong Focus on European Player Development
Although squad sizes are yet to be finalised, it is understood that at least seven players per team must be from Europe. Most will come from Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands, but pathways are expected to be open to players from other Associate nations.
Cricket Ireland chair Brian MacNeice described the ETPL as a “crucial step forward” for Irish cricket, while Cricket Scotland chief executive Trudy Lindblade called it a “groundbreaking opportunity” for Scottish players to gain elite-level exposure.
Analysis: Big Potential, Lingering Scepticism
Despite the optimism, some scepticism remains. The ETPL has a long and troubled backstory, dating back to Euro Slam, an earlier European franchise concept first proposed in 2019. That project collapsed just weeks before launch, followed by further delays caused by the pandemic and funding challenges.
Weather conditions in western Europe and the lack of permanent international-standard venues also pose logistical risks, particularly for a September tournament.
However, for players in emerging cricket nations, the benefits are clear. Greater access to elite competition has long been cited as a barrier to international progress — and in Ireland’s case, the lack of domestic cricket opportunities dominated discussion throughout 2024.
For those involved, the ETPL represents a bold but necessary gamble.
A Defining Moment for European Cricket
With major investors, international stars, ICC backing, and growing global interest, the European T20 Premier League could become a transformative force in the sport’s European landscape.
As Steve Waugh and other high-profile figures throw their weight behind the project, the message is clear: this is not just another T20 league — it’s a strategic push to grow the game where it has long struggled for relevance.
Whether it fulfils that promise will depend on execution, but for now, European cricket finally has momentum.
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