THE INAUGURAL PLAYER DRAFT for the European T20 Premier League (ETPL) marked a major milestone in the development of franchise cricket in Europe, with Ireland international Paul Stirling and emerging left-arm pacer Jai Moondra among the headline selections.
Held in Dublin, the draft saw six franchises assemble their squads ahead of the tournament’s maiden season, scheduled to run from August 26 to September 20 across Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands. The teams selected 36 players, with 12 each from Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association (KNCB).
Ireland captain Paul Stirling was selected by Dublin Guardians as one of the marquee local players in the draft, bringing vast international experience to the franchise. One of Ireland’s most decorated cricketers, Stirling has represented his country in more than 300 international matches and is regarded as one of the leading figures in Associate Nation cricket. His inclusion is expected to enhance both the competitive strength and commercial appeal of the league.
Jai Moondra emerged as one of the biggest success stories of the draft after being picked by Rotterdam Dockers with a first-round selection. The Ireland left-arm fast bowler has enjoyed a rapid rise in international cricket and recently impressed during Ireland’s series against India, earning widespread recognition for his pace and consistency. His selection underlines the ETPL’s emphasis on showcasing emerging talent from Europe’s cricketing nations alongside established international stars.
The six franchises participating in the competition completed their local player selections through the draft. Amsterdam Flames secured Curtis Campher, Belfast Wolves signed Matthew Humphreys, Dublin Guardians picked Paul Stirling, Edinburgh Castle Rockers selected Gareth Delany, Glasgow Cosmic acquired Brad Currie, while Rotterdam Dockers drafted Jai Moondra. Each franchise selected an equal number of players from Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands to ensure balanced representation from the three host nations.
The draft also followed the announcement of several high-profile overseas signings. Steve Smith will lead Amsterdam Flames, while Mitchell Marsh has joined Belfast Wolves. Glasgow Cosmic have signed Glenn Maxwell, Edinburgh Castle Rockers will feature Ravichandran Ashwin, and Rotterdam Dockers boast a star-studded overseas contingent led by Faf du Plessis, Heinrich Klaasen, Anrich Nortje, Donovan Ferreira and Mitchell Owen. The presence of internationally recognised players is expected to significantly boost the league’s global profile.
The European T20 Premier League is jointly organised by Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland and Cricket Netherlands and has received official sanction from the International Cricket Council (ICC). Featuring six city-based franchises representing Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Dublin, Belfast, Glasgow and Edinburgh, the league aims to accelerate the growth of cricket across Europe while creating new commercial opportunities for players, broadcasters, sponsors and investors.
