The European T20 Premier League (ETPL) is targeting July for its return in 2027 as organisers look for space between major franchise competitions and begin planning the second edition of the tournament.
The proposed move would take the ETPL to an earlier part of the European summer and potentially align it more closely with school holidays. According to a report by BBC Sport’s Timothy Abraham, organisers are actively assessing the window after completing the competition’s inaugural season.
ETPL targets gap in franchise calendar
Finding the right position in an increasingly congested cricket calendar is central to the ETPL’s plans for 2027, with next summer’s Ashes also affecting the scheduling of The Hundred.
European T20 Premier League Board Director Warren Deutrom told BBC Sport: “The presence of the Ashes next summer is pushing The Hundred later. And that means that we are trying to fit between Major League Cricket and The Hundred.”
“One of the learnings would be in terms of window, and we are actively looking at an earlier slot, probably more likely July next year,” Deutrom continued.
Long-term model shapes ETPL strategy
The league’s plans extend beyond finding a more suitable calendar position. Its franchise agreements run for 10 years, while owners and operators cannot transfer their ownership during the opening three-year period, creating a model designed around longer-term participation.
Organisers have also worked with franchise investors around the expectation that capital committed to the competition will require patience. Rather than expecting immediate returns, the ETPL is planning around a multi-year path towards a sustainable commercial model.
“We think that there’s going to be a runway to profitability probably within year four to five. And no one was running away from that fact,” Deutrom noted.
Bollywood actor and film producer Abhishek Bachchan is a part-owner of the ETPL. The competition operates in collaboration with the cricket boards of Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands.
Player payments central to league credibility
Alongside its commercial plans, the ETPL has given assurances that players involved in the competition will receive payment from their respective franchises.
“If there’s any one of the measures that compromise the integrity of the league in its perception and credibility, not paying players is definitely one of those,” Deutrom said.
As previously reported by cricexec, the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA) noted and lauded the ETPL’s efforts to engage early with players’ associations.
