When Warren Deutrom announced in July that he would step down after 18 years as Chief Executive of Cricket Ireland, many in the global cricket community wondered what his next move would be. The answer is now official: Deutrom has joined the European T20 Premier League (ETPL) full-time as Director of ETPL and Chair of Rules X, the league’s parent company.
It is a significant step for one of cricket’s most respected administrators, and a signal of intent from a league preparing to debut in 2026.
“I am delighted to be given this exciting opportunity to remain involved in European cricket, and to help bring this longstanding vision to reality,” Deutrom told cricexec in an exclusive interview. “ETPL can play a vital role in galvanising the world’s second biggest sport in the world’s second biggest sports market by establishing a world-class professional T20 league.”
A proven leader with global experience
Over nearly two decades at Cricket Ireland, Deutrom helped the organization achieve ICC Full Member status and guided the men’s team into Test cricket. He was also instrumental in building relationships across the ICC and with governments, sponsors, and broadcasters.
That background now comes to ETPL. Deutrom recalls that as early as 2017, he saw the potential for a pan-European competition. “Ireland didn’t have the scale to do this alone,” he said. “Working with Scotland and the Netherlands meant we could create something genuinely European—and something with real growth potential.”
Governance and board leadership
Deutrom’s appointment was announced alongside Brian MacNeice, Chair of Cricket Ireland, who has been named Chair of the ETPL Board, and Andrew May, CFO of Cricket Ireland, who will continue as a Director. Together, the three appointments underline ETPL’s emphasis on governance, accountability, and long-term sustainability.
Speaking to cricexec, MacNeice explained that his new role will allow him to be more hands-on in shaping the league’s future direction.
“I’ll have more of a hands-on role in terms of helping shape the vision and the direction of the league itself,” he said. “The primary motivation for this league is cricket and growing the game, both here in Ireland and across Europe. The integrity of cricket has to be at the heart of the whole league—that’s what we’re trying to create.”
MacNeice was also clear about the importance of Deutrom’s arrival as a full-time executive.
“He will have a singular focus around ETPL,” MacNeice said. “Cricket Ireland remains an important stakeholder in the league, but we’re not running it. Warren brings the experience, credibility, and focus to handle the day-to-day, which frees Cricket Ireland to concentrate on its many other priorities.”
For ETPL, this governance structure ensures that the league benefits from both independent leadership and institutional continuity. Cricket Ireland is central as a founding partner, but the operational responsibility for building the league now lies squarely with ETPL itself.
Positioning for growth
The timing could hardly be better. Italy has qualified for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, ICC digital data shows growing traction in Europe, and cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 Olympics has strengthened the sport’s position with European governments.
For Deutrom, those signals point to a genuine opportunity. “One third of the ICC’s members are in Europe. The potential is incredibly exciting,” he said. “ETPL is about building something sustainable, with local flavour and global standards.”
Looking ahead to 2026
As ETPL moves toward launch, Deutrom is excited about what the league can do for Cricket in Ireland and beyond: “it’s about creating opportunities for players, coaches, and officials—while giving fans across Europe a product they can call their own,” he said.
For Deutrom, the project feels like a natural next step in his career. “I’ve been part of building Cricket Ireland from scratch,” he told cricexec. “Now I want to devote that same energy to replicating those outcomes for ETPL.”
