Cricket Ireland has revived talk of a European multi-nation tournament, something chair Brian MacNeice believes could take the field as early as the summer of 2027.
The idea mirrors the Asia Cup model: a short, T20-centred event for both men and women. Likely participants include England, Ireland, Scotland, the Netherlands and, if schedules align, Italy. Initial conversations began during England’s brief T20I visit to Dublin last September, though the ECB has since taken a watching brief.
“I’ve had this on the table for discussion with various stakeholders for quite some time,” MacNeice said on Friday while unveiling Ireland’s 2026 home schedule. “It’s something that I’m very passionate about and that I fundamentally believe in.”
Early outlines point to a two-week window, ideally in June, leaving room either side for domestic leagues and ICC commitments. MacNeice added: “The conversations have now developed and evolved to a point that I’m much more confident that it is going to happen… There’s multiple stakeholders that will be part of that in due course, but I would anticipate that it will kick off in the summer of ’27, and the precise format and detail of it will be announced in due course – I would expect in the next couple of months.”
Logistics, as ever, remain a hurdle. Venues would need to juggle county and club calendars, while broadcasters must be persuaded a European competition can pull reliable audiences. MacNeice sounded optimistic: “There’s ongoing discussions with various different stakeholders and parties associated with it… To be clear from the outset, that’s a men’s and women’s event. It’s a little bit early from a broadcaster perspective to be going out until it’s all locked in, but we anticipate that there will be broadcast appetite for it.”
The proposal comes alongside fresh partnerships with the Emirates Cricket Board and Cricket Association of Nepal. Those agreements guarantee regular white-ball series against the UAE and Nepal and, from 2026-27, an ILT20 clause requiring every franchise to sign at least one Ireland player.
For now, the Euro Nations Cup remains a concept, but momentum—modest though it is—appears to be edging towards a formal launch.
