Cricket great Steve Waugh is among owners named during the unveiling of franchises for a new European T20 Premier League (ETPL) cricket competition.
The franchises and owners were revealed at an international press conference held in Sydney.
Amsterdam, Edinburgh and Belfast are the franchise-cities in the ETPL which is due to begin next summer with the support of Cricket Ireland.
Waugh is part of the Amsterdam ownership team along with former Olympic gold medallist Jamie Dwyer and Tim Thomas, a former CEO of the Centre for Australia-India Relations.
“I’ve always been selective about where I invest my time and energy in cricket,” Waugh says.
“Franchise cricket expanded quickly but this opportunity stood out because it is driven by aspiration and long-term thinking.
WAUGH’S RETURN
“In many ways, it marks a return to the game for me but in a very different role.
“This is about helping uphold the standards and spirit of cricket while supporting its growth into Europe, the game’s last great frontier.”
Edinburgh will be owned by the New Zealand duo of Nathan McCullum and former Test bowler Kyle Mills.
Belfast’s Irish Wolves will be owned by Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell and Rohan Lund, a former Group CEO of NRMA.
“I am thrilled to be involved with the Irish Wolves where we will build a culture of fun, family and playing without fear,” Maxwell says.
“The Irish people love their sport and Cricket Ireland made huge strides in expanding the game over the last two decades.”
Edinburgh co-owner Mills says the “ETPL has all the ingredients to become a serious force in global cricket”.
Brian MacNeice, the chairman of ETPL and a director of Cricket Ireland, says the new competition is a crucial step forward for Irish cricket.
“Since gaining full membership, we have made steady and sustainable steps forward as a sport but over the next few years we are set for an enormous leap,” he says.
The ETPL’s inaugural season is due to start in the last week of August.
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