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Australia’s senior stars Steve Smith and Mitchell Marsh are set to feature in the upcoming European T20 Premier League (ETPL), with both players committing to a franchise owned by former Test captain Steve Waugh.
The six-team competition, scheduled to begin later this year, is set to make history as the first ICC-sanctioned T20 league to be staged across multiple countries.
The ETPL will operate across Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands, marking a significant push to expand the game’s footprint in Europe.
Steve Waugh is part of a consortium that owns the Amsterdam-based franchise, Amsterdam Flames, and has confirmed that Smith and Marsh are among the headline players signed for the team.
Netherlands captain Scott Edwards has also joined the Flames, while discussions are ongoing with Australian power-hitter Tim David.
“We’ve approached a number of players and haven’t had one negative comment at all,” Waugh told.
“They’re fascinated by the concept, especially because it’s in Europe. They know what I stand for in terms of values, teamwork and success, and they see this as a serious project.”
The six-team league features franchises owned by several high-profile cricket figures. Glenn Maxwell will co-own the Ireland-based Irish Wolves alongside Rohan Lund, the former Group Chief Executive Officer of Australian insurance firm NRMA.
Former New Zealand internationals Kyle Mills and Nathan McCullum have acquired the Edinburgh franchise.
So far, franchises in Amsterdam, Belfast and Edinburgh have been sold, while teams based in Dublin, Rotterdam and Glasgow are expected to be finalised in the next phase of the league’s rollout.
Waugh stressed that the ETPL is designed to be more than a symbolic gesture towards European cricket.
“We want this to be a meaningful competition,” he said. “It’s not just about supporting European cricket in name. The aim is to build one of the best leagues in the world. That might be ambitious, but you have to set high standards.”
He also highlighted the role that senior players, such as Steve Smith and Mitchell Marsh, can play in developing emerging talent.
“They’re at a stage of their careers where it’s not just about personal success, but the impact they can have on other players and the growth of the game,” Waugh added.
The inaugural season of the European T20 Premier League is scheduled to run from August 26 to September 20. Matches will be played in Ireland and the Netherlands, with final venue details expected to be announced in due course.
READ: Steve Waugh, Glenn Maxwell among team owners in European T20 League
