The European T20 Premier League (ETPL) held its 2026 Player Draft on Thursday, bringing together franchise owners and representatives ahead of the league’s inaugural season. Among those present were R Ashwin, Glenn Maxwell, Jonty Rhodes, Steve Waugh and Kyle Mills. Maxwell, representing the Belfast Irish Wolves, spoke about his franchise’s draft strategy and the league’s broader vision for European cricket.
Speaking to the media after the draft, Maxwell said the ETPL was about more than assembling competitive squads; it is about creating a sustainable pathway for cricket to flourish across Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands.
Reflecting on Belfast’s draft strategy, Maxwell said the franchise was delighted with the outcome after securing most of the players it had targeted.
“We were able to get the top picks that we identified before the draft, and we were very lucky that they were still available when it came around to our pick,” Maxwell said. “We’re very happy with the way the draft went.”
While building a strong squad is important, Maxwell believes the league’s real success will be measured by its impact on local talent. He said sharing dressing rooms with experienced overseas professionals would provide invaluable exposure for players from the participating nations.
“There’s some world-class names throughout the league, and it’s a hard competition not to pick up some tips that might help these players in their games,” Maxwell said.
Responding to a question on whether franchise leagues can help emerging cricket nations become more competitive on the international stage, Maxwell pointed to the rapid progress made by the United States of America. He credited the rise of Major League Cricket (MLC) with providing the kind of platform that has accelerated the country’s development.
“You’ve only got to look at a team like the US,” Maxwell said. “Their growth is probably on the back of the success of the MLC and how that tournament has helped grow cricket in that part of the world.”
He expressed hope that the ETPL could have a similar influence in Europe, saying meaningful progress can come sooner than expected when young players regularly compete alongside and against world-class cricketers.
“Hopefully, the same thing will happen with the ETPL,” Maxwell said. “It can happen quite fast… inspiring the next generation of cricketers.”
Looking beyond the inaugural season, Maxwell reiterated that the league’s legacy should not be judged solely by results or trophies, but by the long-term development it brings to cricket in the region.
“We’ve obviously got a huge role to play in the development of cricket in these three countries,” he said. “Hopefully, we have a really successful first year, and then it will only grow from there.”
With several international stars and former greats involved across its six franchises, the ETPL hopes to establish itself as a platform that not only delivers competitive T20 cricket but also contributes to the next phase of cricket’s expansion in Europe.
[5:39 pm, 2/7/2026] Dileep sr editor: (If you see a copy not taken for more than half an hour, please flag it then and there. There will be times when things get missed.)
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