WCA highlights ETPL’s early player engagement and professional standards

The inaugural European T20 Premier League (ETPL) has been praised by the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA) for its approach to player engagement and professional standards.

WCA chief executive Tom Moffat, in the association’s latest Global Leagues Hub update, described ETPL as “a good example of what can be achieved when leagues engage player representatives early and work constructively to establish clear arrangements before players take the field.”

The WCA included ETPL under its “Positive Progress” category, citing the league’s early engagement with the WCA, the Irish Cricketers’ Association, the Dutch Cricketers’ Association and the Scottish Cricketers’ Association to negotiate player agreements before the inaugural season.

The recognition offers independent support for the league’s aim of establishing a professional cricket competition in Europe built around player representation, contractual clarity, timely payments and strong operating standards from the outset.

Abhishek Bachchan, co-founder of the European T20 Premier League, said: “The WCA’s recognition is a tremendous validation of what we set out to build. We wanted to create a league respected not only for the cricket on the field, but for the standards and values behind it. Building the right foundations from the outset is critical to creating a league that players want to play in, franchises are proud to be part of, and fans can identify with.”

Dhiraj Malhotra, co-founder of the European T20 Premier League, said: “Creating the right environment for players was fundamental to our vision. We wanted players to have clarity, confidence and the assurance that ETPL would operate to the highest professional standards. The WCA’s recognition is a very proud moment for all of us.”

Saurav Banerjee, co-founder of the European T20 Premier League, said: “Player representation, clear contracts, timely payments and professional standards had to be part of ETPL’s foundation. Good governance is about clear structures, accountability and consistency, and the WCA’s recognition is a strong affirmation of that approach.”

Priyanka Kaul, co-founder of the European T20 Premier League, said: “Credibility is earned through the way you operate and the commitments you keep. Building that credibility with players, partners, franchises, cricket boards and fans has been central to our vision. Setting this benchmark in our first year gives us an even greater responsibility to keep raising it.”

The WCA’s Global Leagues Hub, launched in 2024, provides independent information on major domestic leagues and assesses competitions against criteria identified by players, player associations and agents as important to professional standards and player welfare.

Warren Deutrom, an ETPL board director, said: “For a new league to have longevity, good governance has to be part of its foundation. It has to shape how decisions are made, how responsibilities are defined and how the league is held accountable. In this instance, we recognised the importance of engaging early with the players’ associations to ensure the league was built around placing players at the centre of what we’re trying to build. The WCA’s recognition is a welcome validation of that approach and the standards we are seeking to establish for professional cricket in Europe.”

The recognition provides ETPL with a benchmark as it looks beyond its first season. The league says it will continue working with players, player associations, franchises and cricket board partners to strengthen the professional framework established during its inaugural year.

About the European T20 Premier League

The European T20 Premier League (ETPL) is a multi-country T20 cricket competition spanning Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands, with six franchise teams representing Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Rotterdam and Amsterdam.

Founded by Abhishek Bachchan, Saurav Banerjee, Priyanka Kaul and Dhiraj Malhotra, together with GREX, ETPL is being developed in partnership with Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association (KNCB).

The league aims to create a professional cricket platform in Europe, bringing together international and emerging talent while expanding audiences, participation and commercial opportunities for the sport across the continent.

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