After unanimous Board agreement, the European T20 Premier League (ETPL) will formally debut in 2026. The decision was made following a thorough engagement with important corporate, media, and cricket stakeholders.
The tournament’s original 2025 window served as a good starting point, but discussions with broadcasters, sponsors, franchise candidates, and regulating organisations revealed that 2026 offers ETPL the tournament the best chance of success.
“We’re building for the long term,” stated ETPL Chair Warren Deutrom. With the correct partners, funding, and general support, 2026 provides us with the perfect window of opportunity to start a league that is competitive, professional, and long-lasting. The ETPL is developing into a significant new force in international cricket with the support of Rules Sport Tech and the national boards of Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands.
“Our focus has been clear from the start: build it right, with the right people,” stated Saurav Banerjee, co-owner of ETPL. We are headed in the right direction, as seen by the increase in interest we are currently receiving from franchises, broadcasters, and investors.
The ETPL, which was approved by the ICC on November 27, 2024, is a historic partnership between the cricket boards of Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands. It is a concerted attempt to develop the sport and promote European cricket globally.
The combined support of Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland, and Cricket Netherlands for the ETPL shows an exceptional level of cooperation and dedication to expanding the game throughout the region, in contrast to other leagues that are usually backed by a single national body.
With the ability to interact with the whole European market (except from England), the ETPL provides unmatched market depth. Every new nation the league establishes ties with offers substantial prospects for expansion.
The competition seeks to give up-and-coming athletes a chance to compete internationally. The league will have franchise teams and a draft system, just like other successful leagues of a similar nature, but it will be the first of its kind to feature three countries.
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