Steve Smith, Mitchell Marsh Headline European T20 Premier League as Steve Waugh and Glenn Maxwell Become Franchise Owners

Cricket is set to expand its global footprint with the launch of the European T20 Premier League (ETPL), a groundbreaking six-team tournament that will be played across Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands. The league has attracted significant star power, with Australian icons Steve Smith and Mitchell Marsh confirmed as marquee players, while legends Steve Waugh and Glenn Maxwell have taken ownership stakes in franchises.

Star-Studded Ownership and Player Signings

Steve Waugh Returns to Cricket

Steve Waugh, the two-time World Cup-winning Australian captain who retired over 20 years ago, has made a remarkable return to cricket by becoming part of a consortium owning the Amsterdam Flames franchise. Joining him in the ownership group is former Australian field hockey great Jamie Dwyer.

The Amsterdam Flames have already secured an impressive roster, with Steve Smith, Mitchell Marsh (Australia's T20 captain), and Netherlands captain Scott Edwards among the confirmed signings. The franchise is also in "positive" discussions with explosive finisher Tim David.

Glenn Maxwell's Irish Investment

Glenn Maxwell has partnered with Rohan Lund, former Group Chief Executive Officer of NRMA, to co-own the Irish Wolves franchise based in Belfast. This marks another significant investment from one of cricket's most dynamic T20 players.

New Zealand Connection in Edinburgh

Former New Zealand cricketers Kyle Mills and Nathan McCullum have purchased the Edinburgh franchise, adding international cricket experience to the league's ownership structure.

Bollywood Meets Cricket: Abhishek Bachchan's Vision

Bollywood star Abhishek Bachchan serves as co-founder of the ETPL, alongside Dhiraj Malhotra, former CEO of IPL's Delhi Capitals. This marks Bachchan's first venture into overseas sports franchises, having previously owned teams in India's Super League (Chennaiyin FC), Pro Kabaddi League (Jaipur Pink Panthers), and Indian Street Premier League (Majhi Mumbai).

Bachchan revealed that the ETPL is on the verge of signing an Indian broadcaster, which would significantly boost the league's visibility in one of cricket's largest markets.

League Structure and Venues

Six Franchises Across Three Nations

The ETPL will feature six teams spread across Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands:

• Amsterdam Flames (Netherlands) - Owned by Steve Waugh consortium
• Irish Wolves (Belfast) - Owned by Glenn Maxwell and Rohan Lund
• Edinburgh franchise (Scotland) - Owned by Kyle Mills and Nathan McCullum
• Dublin franchise - Yet to be sold
• Rotterdam franchise - Yet to be sold
• Glasgow franchise - Yet to be sold

Inaugural Season Details

The first season is scheduled to run from August 26 to September 20, making it the first ICC-sanctioned league to operate across multiple countries. The inaugural tournament will be played in Dublin and the Netherlands, with organisers planning to construct stands to maximise the matchday experience.

Steve Waugh's Vision for European Cricket Development

Waugh emphasised that the ETPL is far more than a commercial venture—it's about developing cricket in Europe.

"We want this to be a meaningful competition. It's not just a token gesture to support European cricket. This aims to be one of the best leagues in the world. It's not the best T20 competition in the world. I mean, that's lofty ambitions, but you got to set your standards high."

The Australian legend highlighted the developmental opportunities for European players:

"The opportunity for those continental players to play alongside the world's best cricketers for four or five weeks at a time is going to fast-track their progress. There's three sides from Europe in the T20 World Cup coming up. There's opportunities for those sides going forward to be at the Olympics."

Player Interest and Recruitment

Waugh revealed that player interest has been overwhelmingly positive:

"We've approached a number of players and haven't had one negative comment at all. They're just so fascinated by it. I think because I haven't been involved too much in cricket, they must think, well, this is a serious project."

He added that senior players like Smith and Marsh are at career stages where mentoring younger talent appeals to them:

"Steve Smith and Mitch Marsh, they're at the stage of their career where they want to help develop other players."

Historical Context: From Euro Slam to ETPL

The ETPL represents the realisation of a long-held vision for European T20 cricket. The Euro Slam T20, involving the same three cricket boards, was originally planned to launch in 2019 but never materialised. The ETPL is now a joint venture between Cricket Ireland and India-based Rules Global (Rules X), with strategic partnerships with Cricket Scotland and KNCB (Netherlands cricket board).

Scheduling Challenges

The ETPL's August-September window means it will begin approximately 10 days after The Hundred final in England. However, it is likely to clash with the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), which typically operates in the same period. This scheduling conflict could present challenges for player availability across both competitions.

Future Outlook

The European T20 Premier League represents a significant step forward for cricket's expansion into new markets. With high-profile ownership, marquee player signings, and a clear developmental mission, the ETPL has positioned itself as a serious addition to the global T20 calendar.

As Bachchan noted, the approach is pragmatic:

"It's good to have lofty ambitions, but you also have to be realistic. You have to build it brick by brick, and that's exactly the approach we have."

With the Olympics potentially featuring cricket in the future and three European nations already participating in T20 World Cups, the ETPL could play a crucial role in elevating the standard of cricket across the continent. The inaugural season in August 2026 will be closely watched by cricket administrators and fans worldwide.