The European Cricket Association (ECA) has confirmed that the inaugural European Champions Trophy will take place in 2026, featuring T20 International matches between club champions from member nations. This initiative is seen as a milestone in European cricket, offering clubs the opportunity to compete at a continental level and strengthen the sport’s visibility across Europe.
The announcement came at the ECA’s annual congress in Istanbul last week, where federations were invited to submit hosting proposals by 31 January 2026. The ECA expects to confirm the host country in February.
In addition, the ECA is exploring the commercial potential of the T10 format. “We are assessing T10 competitions for 2026 as a means to support financial sustainability for member federations. Findings and recommendations will be shared at the Executive Committee meeting in Q1 2026,” the association stated.
The congress, attended by delegates from all 13 member federations, confirmed quorum and proceeded with a full agenda that included elections and competition planning. Gabriel Marin (Romania) was elected President, with Yousuf Gilani (Norway) as First Vice-President. Vice-presidents include Gurumurty Palani (France), Mohammad Bilal Zalmani (Austria), and Indika Thilan Perera (Malta).
The ECA Board also reached its full 11-member composition, adding Nicolas Fournarakis (Greece), Nikolay Kolev (Bulgaria), Abdul Shakoor (Romania), Nahit Sahin (Turkey), Sarah Gomersall (Jersey), and Luca Bruno Malaspina (Italy).
President Marin highlighted the association’s focus on long-term strategic priorities, including men’s, women’s, and Under-19 European Championships, as well as grassroots engagement initiatives. “We aim to foster cricket not just as a sport, but as a means for education, social inclusion, and community development,” Marin said.