ETPL Player Draft Set For 2 July

Dublin :  The inaugural European T20 Premier League (ETPL) Player Draft will take place on Thursday, 2 July, as the league's six teams come together to build their inaugural squads ahead of the 2026 season.

Fresh from his dream international debut against India, Ireland pacer Jai Moondra headlines a high-quality shortlist featuring some of the finest cricketers from Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands. His performances against the world's top-ranked T20 side have made him one of the most sought-after names in the draft.

With teams backed by cricketing icons including Rahul Dravid, Steve Waugh, Matthew Hayden, Faf du Plessis, Heinrich Klaasen, Glenn Maxwell and Jonty Rhodes, the draft is expected to be one of the defining milestones in the league's inaugural journey.

Joining Moondra on the shortlist are Netherlands internationals Aryan Dutt, Fred Klaassen and Michael Levitt, Ireland all-rounder George Dockrell, and Scotland left-arm seamer Bradley Currie, among a strong pool of talent set to feature in the inaugural ETPL season.

Following hundreds of registrations from eligible players affiliated with Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association (KNCB), the final shortlist has been prepared after an extensive evaluation process. A total of 36 players will be selected in the draft, with 12 players each chosen from Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland and the KNCB player pools.

Dhiraj Malhotra, Co-Founder, European T20 Premier League, said: "Ireland's recent success against the world's top-ranked T20 side is a powerful reminder of the quality of talent emerging from across Europe. The inaugural ETPL Player Draft is another important milestone as our teams prepare to build squads that will shape the league's first season."

Brian MacNeice, Chair, Cricket Ireland, said: "The ETPL Player Draft is a significant milestone for cricket in Europe. It provides players with a world-class opportunity while showcasing the outstanding talent emerging from Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands."

Warren Deutrom, Chair, Rules X, said: "Over the years, we have spoken about the opportunity to create a truly European professional competition that showcases the best talent from Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands. The Player Draft is where that vision begins to take shape, as teams build the squads that will define the inaugural ETPL season."

Trudy Lindblade, CEO, Cricket Scotland, said: "The Player Draft is where the league truly comes to life. It is an exciting opportunity for players and teams alike and another important step in strengthening cricket across Europe."

Huib Van Walsem, CEO KNCB, said: "Dutch cricket has made significant strides in recent years, and the ETPL provides another platform to accelerate that progress. The Player Draft is an exciting opportunity for our players to showcase their talent while contributing to a competition that will raise the profile of cricket across Europe and set an example for future young cricketers."

The draft will take place on Thursday, 2 July 2026, beginning at 10:30 AM IST / 6:00 AM BST / 5:00 AM GMT.