Ireland’s Paul Stirling ‘disappointed’ with ICC for changing ODI World Cup format: ‘It’s another hurdle’
Ireland's Veteran Batter Navigates Europe's Newest Cricket League While Questioning ICC's Format Overhaul
Bharatmorning.com – The European T20 Premier League has arrived, and with it comes a fresh chapter for one of Ireland's most decorated batters. Paul Stirling, now 36 and still operating at a high level after years on the international circuit, finds himself at the centre of a six-team franchise competition that has drawn ICC sanction and the backing of Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland, and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association. His side, the Belfast Wolves, sits second in the tournament standings after an opening stretch in which Stirling has accumulated 108 runs across four matches — contributions that have kept the franchise firmly in contention.
The league's architecture is built around city-based franchises spanning Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam. Its ownership slate reads like a who's-who of modern cricket: Steve Waugh, Glenn Maxwell, Chris Gayle, Faf du Plessis, and Rahul Dravid all hold stakes in various teams, while Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan figures among the league's founding personalities. For the Belfast Wolves specifically, Maxwell serves as a co-owner — a detail that gives Stirling a unique vantage point on how an active international player shapes a franchise from both sides of the boundary rope.
A Tournament Built to Elevate European Standards
Stirling spoke at length about what the competition means for cricket across the continent. He acknowledged that Europe has lagged behind other regions in developing a top-flight franchise product, but framed the delay as ultimately beneficial.
"If you want to grow the game internationally, then I think yeah. I think Europe's probably been slower than most to get to this stage. But again, better late than never, and we're here now. Hopefully, it's here for the next five years and beyond, which will be incredible."
He pointed to the developmental pathway for younger European players as the tournament's most tangible benefit. Exposure to seasoned overseas professionals, he argued, accelerates improvement far beyond what domestic cricket against home-based opponents can deliver.
"I think it will be the youngsters, in particular, learning from the experienced overseas players. That's the real grasp from this tournament so far is that they'll show those signs of improvement really quickly, way quicker than you'd just be able to do in domestic cricket against your own cricketers."
On the operational side, Stirling praised the production quality of the opening fortnight in the Netherlands. Venue logistics, commentary coverage, and overall presentation, he said, exceeded his expectations and set a benchmark the Dublin leg would need to match over the following two weeks.
"It's been brilliant so far. We've been very fortunate. We were in the Netherlands for just over two weeks. We had a brilliant reception from our own team, the Belfast Wolves. The management has been superb. It has exceeded my expectations in how smooth it's been."
Maxwell: Player, Owner, and On-Field Leader
Having a current international star as a co-owner creates a dynamic unlike anything in traditional franchise cricket. Stirling described Maxwell's involvement as total — present in every facet of the operation while simultaneously performing at the highest competitive level.
"He's been awesome so far. He's just full-on. He's involved in everything as he would be anyway, but he's a fantastic, fantastic leader. Unbelievable player, very lucky to have him, and he's running the show, both on the field and off it."
Stirling added that he expected Maxwell to continue contributing significant runs in the tournament, even while juggling the administrative responsibilities that come with ownership.
India's Global Footprint and Irish Cricket's Rising Moment
The interview also touched on the worldwide following India commands and what that means for venues hosting international fixtures. Stirling noted that whenever Indian players travel to Ireland, attendance and engagement spike noticeably — a phenomenon he hopes the ETPL can replicate to draw larger television and in-person audiences.
"Huge support for India worldwide. So yeah, I'd say it definitely does and looking forward to seeing what Dublin has to offer in that respect. Anytime India comes and travels to Ireland, they get a really good reception here."
That reception was on full display earlier this year when Ireland hosted India in a two-match T20I series and claimed the series. Stirling called it one of the finest victories in Irish cricket history, recalling how the home side caught the visitors flat-footed immediately after their flight, playing at Stormont in Belfast.
"One of, if not the best, victories or a series win that we've had. It was incredible to watch. We caught India off the hop a little bit straight off the flight, playing in Stormont."
The ICC Format Question
Amid the optimism surrounding the new league, Stirling offered a more pointed view on the International Cricket Council's decision to alter the ODI World Cup format. For a player of his generation and experience, the change represents yet another structural obstacle to navigate.
"It's another hurdle."
His disappointment was measured but clear: a format shift mid-cycle complicates preparation, narrows the competitive window, and adds uncertainty for players already managing the demands of franchise cricket, domestic seasons, and international duty. In a year when Ireland is consolidating its position on the global stage and a new European league is attempting to raise the continent's competitive ceiling, the timing of the ICC's intervention lands awkwardly for players like Stirling who are trying to capitalise on every available platform.
The broader trajectory, however, remains pointed upward. T20 cricket now permeates every market, franchise leagues multiply across continents, and World Cup cycles arrive every couple of years. Stirling sees the direction of travel as positive so long as participation continues to widen. The ETPL, if it sustains its momentum beyond this inaugural edition, could become the mechanism through which European nations — Ireland included — convert fleeting moments of success into sustained competitive depth.
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