ECA announces 2026 European Champions Trophy, elects new board

The European Cricket Association (ECA) will launch the European Champions Trophy in 2026, a T20I competition that will bring together national club champions from across the continent. The ECA, which held its annual conference last week in Istanbul, has invited member countries to submit hosting proposals by January 31, 2026, with final decisions expected in February, according to an official statement.

During the conference, the ECA also recognised the growing commercial potential of the T10 format globally. Delegates from the 13-member national federations across Europe participated, and with quorum officially confirmed, the Congress proceeded as a fully valid and operational assembly. The agenda included governance elections, competition planning, and updates to regulatory frameworks.

“The ECA will explore the feasibility of introducing T10 events in 2026 to support member federations’ financial sustainability. Recommendations by the Marketing Commission/Competition Commission will be presented at the Executive Committee meeting in Q1 2026,” the ECA statement read as quoted by Cricbuzz.

In the recent elections, Gabriel Marin of Romania was elected as ECA president, while Yousuf Gilani of Norway became the first vice-president. Gurumurty Palani (France), Mohammad Bilal Zalmani (Austria), and Indika Thilan Perera (Malta) were also elected as vice-presidents.

In accordance with Article 7 of the ECA Articles of Association, the Board has now expanded to its full 11-member structure. The newly elected board members are Nicolas Fournarakis (Greece), Nikolay Kolev (Bulgaria), Abdul Shakoor (Romania), Nahit Sahin (Turkiye), Sarah Gomersall (Jersey), and Luca Bruno Malaspina (Italy).

“The ECA has set up its internal governance structure for the next four years and established its long-term strategic objectives. It has outlined its core competition structure for the next three years, including the European Championships for men and women and, as a key strategic goal, the Under-19 European Championship,” Marin said.

“The Congress also underlined another critical objective-grassroots development and engaging local communities in promoting cricket, not only as a sport but also as a tool for education, integration and cohesion. We are looking forward to making the ECA a long-term success story in the European sporting landscape,” he added.