Cricket Ireland is rallying support for the proposed ‘Euro Nations Cup’, with chairman Brian MacNeice hoping the tournament could start as early as 2027.
Modeled after the Asia Cup, the event will bring together a selection of European teams including England, Ireland, Scotland, Netherlands and Italy, and will feature both men’s and women’s matches, mostly in the Twenty20 format.
MacNeice said he was ‘very curious’ about the idea and raised it with England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) officials during England’s brief T20I tour of Ireland last September.
“I have had this on the table for discussion with various stakeholders for some time,” MacNeice said on Friday when announcing Ireland’s domestic internationals for 2026.
He pointed out that discussions about the proposed event have progressed significantly in recent months and there is growing confidence among stakeholders that the project will come to fruition.
He also suggested that key parties are aligning key aspects of the project, including structure and timelines, while formal announcements on format and other details are expected to follow soon once the final agreements are in place.
“The conversations are now evolving and I’m very confident that it will happen… Many stakeholders will be part of it, but I expect it to start in the summer of ’27 and the precise format and detail of that will be announced in due course – I expect in the next couple of months.
“Discussions are ongoing with many different stakeholders and related parties… Right from the start, it’s a men’s and women’s event. It’s a bit early from a broadcaster’s point of view, going out until it’s all locked down, but we expect there will be broadcast interest for it.”
Separately, Ireland on Friday announced long-term arrangements with the Emirates Cricket Board and Nepal Cricket Association.
The deals will involve the men’s national team in regular white-ball series against the UAE and Nepal.
Additionally, each ILT20 franchise must sign at least one Ireland player from the 2026-27 season.