ETPL 2026: Chris Gayle Joins Glasgow Mugafians As Co-Owner In New European T20 League

Mumbai, April 20: The European T20 Premier League (ETPL), Europe’s first ICC-sanctioned T20 franchise league, today announced the ‘Glasgow Mugafians’, the league’s Glasgow-based franchise representing Scotland. Backed by the Mugafi Group as founding partner, the franchise is owned by Tansha Batra, with West Indies legend Chris Gayle joining as Co-Owner and Global Brand Ambassador. Mugafi Group, the media, entertainment, and IP platform founded by Vipul Agrawal, will provide the commercial, content, and digital infrastructure to support the franchise’s global ambitions.

Tournament schedule and format

The inaugural edition of the ETPL will take place from August 26 to September 20, 2026, featuring six franchises representing Glasgow, Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Dublin, Belfast, and Rotterdam, competing in 33 matches.

Leadership and vision for the league

Speaking about the Glasgow franchise, Mr Abhishek Bachchan, Co-owner, ETPL, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Mugafi Group and Chris Gayle to this journey. Europe represents one of the most exciting frontiers for cricket, a region rich in sporting culture, diversity and untapped potential. With the ETPL, we are not just building a league but creating a platform that can unlock talent, unite markets and establish Europe as a powerful new center of the global game.”

Investment and ownership perspective

Speaking about the acquisition of the Glasgow franchise, Vipul Agrawal, Founder & CEO, Mugafi Group, said: “Every major sport in the world is now an eyeballs business. Cricket has 2.5 billion fans and the fastest-growing viewership of any sport on the planet. The IP sitting inside a founding-position franchise in Europe’s first ICC-sanctioned league, owned by someone like Chris Gayle, in a city like Glasgow, with a South Asian diaspora built for cricket, that is a once-in-a-generation asset. Mugafi exists to build and back IP that lasts. That’s exactly what this is.”

Tansha Batra, Owner, Glasgow Mugafians, said: “This is not about bringing cricket to Scotland. Cricket has been here for a very long time – in the parks, in the clubs, in the communities. What we’re building is a franchise that finally gives all of that a professional home. Glasgow Mugafians is where Scotland’s cricket story stops being a secret and starts being told to the world.”

Chris Gayle, Co-Owner and Global Brand Ambassador, Glasgow Mugafians, said: “Stepping into the role of co-owner of Glasgow Mugafians marks an exciting new chapter for me. The ETPL is already creating waves globally, and having played in franchise leagues around the world, I’m confident this will be something special. Europe represents cricket’s final frontier, and the ETPL has the potential to unravel promising local talent and nurture future heroes who will strengthen the sport in that region. I can’t wait to get started on this new journey.”

Other franchises and league structure

The ETPL has attracted some of the most credible names in world cricket and sport as franchise owners. The Amsterdam franchise is backed by Australian cricket legend Steve Waugh and hockey icon Jamie Dwyer, with Mitchell Marsh as captain. Belfast is co-owned by Glenn Maxwell, while Edinburgh is backed by New Zealand internationals Kyle Mills and Nathan McCullum with Mitchell Santner as captain. Glasgow now joins this distinguished line-up, with Chris Gayle and Tansha Batra at the helm, backed by the Mugafi Group.

League background and partnerships

The European T20 Premier League (ETPL) is a joint venture between Cricket Ireland and Rules Global (Rules X). It is co-founded and co-owned by Abhishek Bachchan, Saurav Banerjee, Priyanka Kaul, and Dhiraj Malhotra — partners at Rules Global. The league is being developed in partnership with Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland and Royal Dutch Cricket Association.

About Mugafi Group

Mugafi Group is a media, entertainment, and IP platform founded by Vipul Agrawal. The company builds and backs intellectual properties across content, technology, and sport. Mugafi Group participated in the acquisition of the Glasgow Mugafians as a founding commercial and content partner.

About the Glasgow Mugafians

Scotland's first professional cricket franchise, competing in the European T20 Premier League (ETPL).
Owner: Tansha Batra. Co-Owner and Global Brand Ambassador: Chris Gayle. Backed by Mugafi Group.
Institutional Partner: Cricket Scotland.

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About the European T20 Premier League (ETPL)

The first ICC-sanctioned T20 franchise league in Europe. Backed by Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland, and KNCB Netherlands. Inaugural season: August 26 - September 20, 2026. Six franchises across Glasgow, Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Dublin, Belfast and Rotterdam. Co-founded and co-owned by Abhishek Bachchan, Priyanka Kaul, Saurav Banerjee and Dhiraj Malhotra.

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