Mumbai: With the inaugural edition of the European T20 Premier League (ETPL) set to begin on August 26, league co-founder Abhishek Bachchan has said the tournament is designed as a long-term sporting venture focused on building a sustainable cricket ecosystem in Europe rather than chasing immediate success.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, Bachchan said the league’s founders believed that attracting credible team owners with a clear vision would naturally encourage leading international cricketers to participate. He noted that the signing of established stars such as Faf du Plessis and Ravichandran Ashwin reflected growing confidence in the league’s long-term ambitions.
Bachchan added that ETPL is not intended to be a short-term project but a platform committed to developing talent and creating lasting value for players, franchises and fans. According to him, the involvement of experienced owners has strengthened the league’s credibility and reinforced its vision of nurturing the next generation of cricketers.
Drawing on his experience as the owner of professional kabaddi and football teams in India, Bachchan said the key lesson has been to create a distinct identity instead of competing directly with established sports. He explained that ETPL aims to build its own loyal fan base by offering a unique cricketing product while learning from the successful franchise models already established in European football.
Meanwhile, Amsterdam Flames co-owner Steve Waugh highlighted the growing potential of European cricket following Ireland’s recent 2-0 T20I series victory over India. He described the result as a landmark achievement for Irish cricket and said it demonstrated the rapid progress being made across the region.
Waugh said the success of European teams has increased excitement ahead of the ETPL, adding that the league offers an opportunity to accelerate cricket’s development across the continent. He expressed confidence that the tournament could play a significant role in expanding the sport’s footprint and creating new opportunities for players and supporters throughout Europe.
The inaugural European T20 Premier League is scheduled to get underway on August 26, bringing together international stars and franchise teams in what organisers hope will become a major fixture on the global cricket calendar.
