ETPL Player Draft Registration Is Now Open: Here Is Everything You Need to Know
Player registration for the highly-anticipated European T20 Premier League (ETPL) draft is now open. This is a genuine opportunity for cricketers across Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands to participate in the highest competitive level of franchise cricket European cricket has ever seen.
The official opening of player registration marks the first formal step towards assembling the local cricketers the franchises want to acquire. This will help the teams firm-up their playing rosters via the player draft and finalise their squad lists. These will be the team squads that compete when the inaugural season begins in August 2026.
Who is eligible to register for the draft?
Registration is open to male cricketers from Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands who are affiliated with any of the three governing bodies: Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland and the KNCB (Royal Dutch Cricket Association). If you hold valid affiliation with any of these boards, you are eligible to submit your registration for consideration ahead of the ETPL Player Draft.
What does registration actually involve?
Registering for the draft is the first step in the local player acquisition process. Eligible cricketers submit their details via the official registration portal which can be accessed through etplofficial.com. After registrations close, franchises will shortlist desired players and then select local players via the draft to complete their squads, alongside international players. Formal squad announcements will follow once the draft concludes.
Why local players should be excited?
The ETPL ownership group has made it very clear that developing European cricket is a big priority and central to the league's identity. Competing alongside and against some of the biggest names in international cricket, offers a standard of exposure and preparation previously inaccessible in European domestic cricket. For local Irish, Scottish and Dutch players, the draft represents a direct route to a professional franchise environment, supported by the league's full broadcast, commercial and media infrastructure behind every match.
When can players register, and what happens next?
Player Registration is now open. This will be followed by the player draft, with squad announcements to come thereafter, before the season begins in August. Players affiliated with Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland or KNCB can register now.
What is the ETPL, and how can it revolutionise European cricket?
The ETPL is a six-franchise, ICC-approved T20 competition, the first of its kind to span multiple cricket boards and bring franchise cricket to Europe. Built across Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands, it features six city-based sides in Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Rotterdam and Amsterdam. The league is backed by some of the most decorated names in world cricket. The franchise-ownership group includes the likes of Rahul Dravid, Steve Waugh, Faf du Plessis, Jonty Rhodes, Heinrich Klaasen, Matthew Hayden and others. The ETPL is a fully structured, professionally run league built to develop and showcase European talent on a global stage.
The window is open. The teams are being built. This is the moment to put your name in the frame.