The launch of the ICC-sanctioned European T20 Premier League (ETPL), a bold new six-team competition involving city-based franchises from Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands, has been officially postponed until 2026. The delay stems from franchise investors shifting their focus to acquiring stakes in The Hundred, the ECB’s flagship franchise tournament.
The Hundred stakes take priority
Multiple sources confirmed to the BBC that “the event will definitely not happen this year”, despite initial plans for the inaugural ETPL to run from July 15 to August 3, 2025.
Deals for at least three of the ETPL’s six franchises were reportedly near completion. But the same group of investors are also in advanced negotiations to purchase stakes in The Hundred, a process that has taken longer than anticipated after the England and Wales Cricket Board extended its sales deadline in April.
This overlap in ownership interests has had a direct knock-on effect on the European project. The ETPL’s formal postponement is expected to be announced imminently, likely within 48 hours.
A Bollywood-backed European cricket venture
Co-owned by Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan in partnership with Rules Sport Tech, the ETPL was launched in January 2024 with major ambitions to “elevate local talent, draw global superstars, and ignite a wave of cricketing enthusiasm across Europe.”
Bachchan, who was born in Mumbai and is well-known for his sports investments, visited Dublin in March to promote the tournament through media interviews and social media campaigns. His partner, Rules Sport Tech, is described as a company that aims to “promote and create high quality sports initiatives, tournaments and events.”
Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Amsterdam, and Rotterdam had been selected as host cities for the inaugural edition, which was envisioned as a permanent annual fixture on the European cricket calendar.
A fresh attempt after past failures
The ETPL was seen as a reboot of earlier failed attempts to launch a pan-European cricket league. The most notable among them, the Euro T20 Slam, was shelved in 2019 just weeks before its opening match, despite having announced teams, conducted a player draft, and secured marquee names including Eoin Morgan. That tournament was postponed multiple times and never materialized.
Organizers of the ETPL insist that their venture remains viable and are optimistic that, despite the setback, the league won’t face the same fate as the Euro T20 Slam. No franchises have been fully sold yet, but the stakeholders remain confident in the model and timeline.
Managed collaboration with ICC backing
The tournament’s development has been led by a joint effort from Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland, and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association, in collaboration with strategic partner Rules Sport Tech and an interim working group. This group has been tasked with overseeing key decisions and creating a dedicated administrative body to run the league.
While all three national boards declined to comment publicly on the postponement, industry insiders remain hopeful that the ETPL will find firmer ground once franchise sales in The Hundred are finalized.
