Abhishek Bachchan Celebrates Launch of European T20 Premier League 2026 in Voorburg
Actor and sports entrepreneur Abhishek Bachchan has marked the opening day of the inaugural European T20 Premier League (ETPL) 2026, sharing an image alongside the league trophy as the cricket competition kicked off in Voorburg.
What Happened
The first season of the European T20 Premier League commenced on Wednesday, August 26, in Voorburg. The tournament got underway with an opening match between the Rotterdam Dockers and the Amsterdam Flames, scheduled for 6:45 PM IST. Abhishek Bachchan, who is a co-founder and co-owner of the competition, shared a picture from the ground on social media holding the trophy with the caption, “Here we go! European T20 League.”
The competition is being developed as a joint venture between Cricket Ireland and Rules Global. It is organized in partnership with three regional cricket governing bodies: Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland, and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association. Bachchan co-owns and co-founded the venture alongside Saurav Banerjee, Priyanka Kaul, and Dhiraj Malhotra, who are partners at Rules Global.
Key Highlights
- Inaugural Match: The tournament started with Rotterdam Dockers taking on Amsterdam Flames in Voorburg at 6:45 PM IST.
- Participating Nations: The competition features teams representing Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands.
- Ownership and Governance: ETPL was co-founded by Abhishek Bachchan alongside Rules Global partners Saurav Banerjee, Priyanka Kaul, and Dhiraj Malhotra, functioning as a joint venture with Cricket Ireland and in collaboration with Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association.
- Sports Portfolio Expansion: The launch marks a continuation of Bachchan’s involvement in sports team ownership, adding to his earlier ventures in Indian football and kabaddi.
Why This Matters
Cricket in Europe has historically maintained a smaller commercial and professional presence compared to major, established cricketing territories. By assembling teams across Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands, the league aims to build a sustainable, professional club-level T20 competition across these regional sports markets.
What to Watch Next
The opening fixture begins a scheduled series of matches hosted in Voorburg this week as the league’s inaugural season unfolds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the European T20 Premier League?
The European T20 Premier League (ETPL) is a new professional T20 cricket tournament bringing together teams from Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands.
Who are the co-founders of ETPL?
The league was co-founded by actor Abhishek Bachchan along with Saurav Banerjee, Priyanka Kaul, and Dhiraj Malhotra of Rules Global, operated as a joint venture with Cricket Ireland.
Where was the opening match played?
The inaugural fixture between Rotterdam Dockers and Amsterdam Flames was held in Voorburg.
Source: Bollywood Hungama via social media updates.