The European T20 Premier League (ETPL), co-owned by Abhishek Bachchan, has unveiled its Glasgow franchise. West Indies cricket star Chris Gayle has been named co-owner and global brand ambassador for the team, called Glasgow Mugafians. This squad will represent Scotland in Europe’s initial ICC-approved T20 competition. The Mugafi Group serves as a founding partner, with Tansha Batra as the owner. Gayle’s involvement is considered a significant step in the league’s initial growth. The reveal occurred in Mumbai by ETPL executives. The debut season is scheduled from August 26 to September 20, 2026, involving six teams from Glasgow, Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Dublin, Belfast, and Rotterdam. The first edition will include 33 games across these locations. In his comments, Chris Gayle expressed enthusiasm for his new position, noting that the ETPL is gaining international attention. Drawing from his experience in various franchise tournaments, he believes it will stand out. He views Europe as cricket’s last major untapped area, with the potential to discover and develop local players who could enhance the sport regionally. Abhishek Bachchan welcomed the Mugafi Group and Gayle, describing Europe as a promising area for cricket due to its sports heritage, variety, and hidden opportunities. He emphasized that the ETPL aims to foster talent, connect regions, and position Europe as a key player in global cricket. Vipul Agrawal, founder and CEO of Mugafi Group, discussed the business advantages of the franchise approach, pointing out cricket’s massive fanbase of 2.5 billion and its rapid growth in viewership. He described owning a foundational team in Europe’s first ICC-sanctioned league, especially with Gayle’s involvement in a cricket-friendly city like Glasgow with a South Asian community, as a rare long-term investment. Mugafi focuses on creating enduring intellectual property. Tansha Batra, the owner, portrayed the franchise as a link between Scotland’s established cricket scene and its professional advancement. She noted that cricket has long existed in local parks, clubs, and groups, and this team provides a professional outlet to share Scotland’s cricket narrative globally. The Glasgow team adds to the league’s roster of prominent owners. The Amsterdam franchise is supported by Australian cricket legend Steve Waugh and hockey star Jamie Dwyer, captained by Mitchell Marsh. Belfast is co-owned by Glenn Maxwell, and Edinburgh by New Zealand players Kyle Mills and Nathan McCullum, with Mitchell Santner as captain. The ETPL is a collaboration between Cricket Ireland and Rules Global (Rules X), co-founded and co-owned by Abhishek Bachchan, Saurav Banerjee, Priyanka Kaul, and Dhiraj Malhotra, in partnership with Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland, and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association.
