Abhishek Bachchan Envisions ETPL as Europe's Premier Cricket League

Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan, co-founder of the European T20 Premier League (ETPL), envisions the league as a premier cricket event in Europe. Set to feature international stars, the ETPL aims to enhance cricket's popularity across the continent. With backing from major cricketing bodies and a strong lineup of players, Bachchan is optimistic about the league's future, hoping it will become a highly anticipated tournament on the cricket calendar. The ETPL is scheduled to take place from August 26 to September 20, 2026, and will include six city-based franchises.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 12, 2026, 05:26 IST

Abhishek Bachchan's Ambitious Vision for ETPL

By Adarsh Chauhan

Dublin [Ireland], May 12: Bollywood star Abhishek Bachchan, a co-founder and co-owner of the European T20 Premier League (ETPL), expressed his anticipation for the league to deliver thrilling entertainment and showcase exceptional cricket. He aims for the ETPL to evolve into one of the most awaited cricket events on the calendar in the coming years.

The ETPL, a newly established franchise-based cricket tournament, aims to broaden the appeal and reach of cricket throughout Europe. It is set to feature international cricket stars such as Mitchell Marsh, Tim David, Mitchell Santner, Liam Livingstone, Glenn Maxwell, Faf du Plessis, and Heinrich Klaasen, providing a unique platform for emerging players from Europe and other Associate Nations to compete alongside some of the sport's biggest names.

With backing from Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland, and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association (KNCB), the league has received official sanction from the International Cricket Council (ICC), marking it as one of the first major ICC-approved franchise T20 leagues in the region.

Scheduled from August 26 to September 20, 2026, the ETPL has already garnered interest from notable figures in cricket, business, and global investment due to its ownership structure. The league boasts an impressive roster of cricketing legends, including former Indian cricketer Rahul Dravid, Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, former West Indies batter Chris Gayle, and former South African cricketers Jonty Rhodes and Faf du Plessis.

In an interview, Abhishek Bachchan shared his aspiration for the ETPL to become a world-class cricket tournament in Europe, featuring top international talent. He is optimistic that the league's strong player lineup reflects its ambitious goals.

Bachchan expressed his hope that the ETPL will provide entertaining, high-quality cricket and grow into one of the most anticipated events on the cricket calendar in the years ahead.

“The expectation should be to create a world-class cricket tournament in Europe. I’m pleased to see the caliber of players already signed on, which I believe will help fulfill that promise. With such top-tier cricketing talent participating, it speaks volumes about our intentions and what we aim to achieve. We want an entertaining tournament with outstanding cricket. In three to five years, I hope to see it still thriving and being one of the most awaited cricketing events,” Abhishek stated.

The ETPL will consist of 33 matches, featuring six city-based franchises: Glasgow, Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Dublin, Belfast, and Rotterdam.

The Dublin franchise is owned by Rahul Dravid, while Glenn Maxwell and Rohan Lund back the Belfast franchise. The Edinburgh franchise is owned by Kyle Mills, Nathan McCullum, and Rachel Wiseman. The Glasgow franchise is co-owned by Vipul Aggarwal and Chris Gayle. The Amsterdam franchise includes Steve Waugh, Jamie Dwyer, and Tim Thomas, while the Rotterdam franchise is owned by a star-studded group including Jonty Rhodes, Faf du Plessis, Glashin, and Samir Shah, with Madhukar Shree as Managing Partner.

Abhishek Bachchan noted that the involvement of cricketing legends like Steve Waugh, Jonty Rhodes, and Rahul Dravid adds significant credibility, experience, and cricketing intelligence to the ETPL. He expressed pride in having such esteemed figures associated with the tournament.

“Having individuals like Steve Waugh, Jonty Rhodes, and Rahul Dravid brings immense caliber and quality to the tournament. Their expertise will greatly influence how the game and the tournament are conducted. We were eager to have them on board for their credibility and cricketing knowledge. This is a step in the right direction, and we are honored to have them involved,” the Bollywood actor remarked.

The ETPL is a collaborative effort between Cricket Ireland and Rules Global (Rules X), co-founded and co-owned by Cricket Ireland, Abhishek Bachchan, Saurav Banerjee, Priyanka Kaul, and Dhiraj Malhotra. The league is being developed in partnership with Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland, and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association.