What Cricket Ireland does

Cricket Ireland is the national governing body for cricket across the island of Ireland (Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland) and an ICC Full Member since 2007 with Test-playing status since 2017. The organization governs men's and women's senior international teams (48 centrally contracted players for 2026-27), age-group national sides, inter-provincial and Super Series domestic competitions, Future Series development pathways, and grassroots/club cricket through five provincial unions (Cricket Leinster, Munster, North West, Northern, and Connacht). Its digital surface is built on standard third-party infrastructure — Future Ticketing for ticketing, GameDay for membership/registration, NV Play for scoring/analysis/live streaming — rather than proprietary technology. Operationally, Cricket Ireland hosted a historic 2-0 T20I series win against India in June 2026 at Stormont Cricket Ground (capacity 4,500-5,000), the venue for all home international fixtures.

Cricket Ireland's revenue model is diversified across five streams: (1) broadcast rights, notably a Sony Pictures Networks India deal for exclusive TV/digital rights to the 2026 India tour on Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV; (2) match-day ticket sales that sell out within minutes for India T20Is; (3) commercial sponsorships including Toyota (Principal Partner), Evara (women's cricket), SD Bell & Co (Official Tea and Coffee Partner), Macron (apparel), Failte Solar, and Corpay; (4) recurring membership revenue from the Irish Cricket Supporters Club offering priority ticket access and 10% discounts; and (5) government funding through Sport Ireland, including €630,000 in 2026 High Performance investment within a broader €28.5M national programme, alongside Abbottstown stadium capital funding.

The most consequential recent strategic move is the co-founding of the European T20 Premier League (ETPL), a multi-country ICC-sanctioned franchise T20 competition launched in partnership with Cricket Scotland, the Royal Dutch Cricket Association, and India-based Rules Global. ETPL features six city-based franchises (Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Amsterdam, Rotterdam) sold at £11.1 million per franchise over 10 years, with ownership drawn from international cricketing legends (Steve Waugh, Glenn Maxwell, Rahul Dravid, Chris Gayle, Faf du Plessis) and Bollywood investors (Abhishek Bachchan, John Abraham). ETPL postponed once, reportedly creating a €700,000 shortfall, and is targeted to commence in August 2026. Cricket Ireland is also building a national cricket stadium at Abbottstown in Dublin (4,240 permanent seats expandable to 12,000), on track for the 2030 men's T20 World Cup co-hosting. Leadership transitioned in late 2025, with Warren Deutrom departing after 19 years as CEO and Sarah Keane appointed as successor; Brian MacNeice serves as Chair of both Cricket Ireland and the ETPL Board, with CFO Andrew May as ETPL Board Director.

Name

Cricket Ireland

Legal name

Cricket Ireland

Website

https://cricketireland.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

1927

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cricket Ireland is the national governing body for cricket in Ireland, overseeing men's and women's international teams, domestic competitions, and grassroots development across the island, and co-founding the European T20 Premier League franchise competition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Governance and Cricket Administration

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Spectator Sports (71121)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

National Governing Bodies (NGBs) (MPAKAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Amateur Sport Governing Bodies & Federations (National/Regional) (MPAKACAD), Cricket Leagues (MPAKAAAF), Professional Sport Governing Bodies & League Sanctioning Authorities (MPAKAFAE)

Keywords

• Cricket governance
• Sports administration
• National team management
• Grassroots cricket development
• Match operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Broadcast Rights: Cricket Ireland generates revenue through broadcast rights agreements with major networks. Sony Pictures Networks India acquired exclusive television and digital media rights for India's 2026 tour of Ireland, shown on Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV. The 2022 India tour became the most-watched sporting event in Irish history.
2. Match Revenue and Tickets: International match ticket sales generate crucial revenue for Cricket Ireland's cricket programme. High-demand series like India T20Is at Stormont sell out within minutes, with venue capacity of approximately 4,500-5,000 seats.
3. Sponsorship and Commercial Partnerships: Cricket Ireland secures sponsorship from multiple commercial partners including Toyota (Principal Partner/Automotive Partner), Evara (women's cricket sponsor), SD Bell & Co (Official Tea and Coffee Partner), and others. Sponsorship revenue supports operations and development programmes.
4. Membership Fees: The Irish Cricket Supporters Club (ICSC) offers membership with benefits including priority ticket access, 10% discounts, and exclusive content. Membership auto-renews annually.
5. Government Funding and Grants: Sport Ireland provides High Performance investment funding, with Cricket Ireland receiving €630,000 in 2026 to fund development tournaments for Under-16s and Under-19s levels, as well as Future Series for male and female players. Additional government funding supports stadium infrastructure.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Cricket Ireland governs all cricket across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It fields Ireland Men's and Women's international teams (Test, ODI, T20I), runs domestic competitions (Inter-Provincial Series, Super Series, Future Series), supports grassroots club cricket through five provincial unions, and delivers coach education, talent pathways, and high-performance player development programmes. The organisation hosts international bilateral series, sells match tickets and merchandise, operates the Irish Cricket Supporters Club, and is a co-founder of the European T20 Premier League franchise tournament.

Product overview

Cricket Ireland operates its official website (cricketireland.ie) as its primary digital platform, providing match information, news, team content, and supporter services. The organization's digital infrastructure includes a standard website with content management capabilities, match reports, player profiles, ticketing integration, and membership services. The site also hosts the Irish Cricket Supporters Club (ICSC) portal providing member-only content, ticketing priority access, and discounts. The digital presence includes match scorecards, livestream capabilities, and video content. As a national cricket governing body, Cricket Ireland's products are primarily informational and administrative services rather than commercial technology products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Inter-Provincial Series Annual domestic cricket competition between Ireland's four provincial representative teams, providing high-performance match opportunities for centrally contracted and emerging Irish players.
• Super Series Cricket Ireland's domestic Super Series competition providing additional high-performance fixtures for the Ireland Wolves squad and provincial teams.
• Future Series Development tournament series within Cricket Ireland's high-performance pathway, supporting Under-16 and Under-19 male and female cricketers.
• Irish Cricket Supporters Club Membership Annual subscription membership for Irish cricket supporters providing priority ticket access, 10% discount on match tickets (max 4 discounted tickets per match, 2 for India series), exclusive content, and supporter benefits. Auto-renews annually.
• International Match Tickets Tickets for Ireland home international matches (Test, ODI, T20I) including high-demand series such as India T20Is, sold via the Future Ticketing platform. Venue capacity of approximately 4,500-5,000 seats at Stormont; high-profile matches regularly sell out within minutes.
• Cricket Ireland Merchandise Official team and supporter merchandise and apparel supplied by Macron, sold through the Cricket Ireland online store.
• Ireland Men's and Women's International Teams Ireland Men's and Women's cricket teams competing in Test, ODI and T20I formats and in ICC tournaments, with 48 centrally contracted players for 2026-27.

Quantifiable outcome

• Historic 2-0 T20I series sweep over India in June 2026
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship and core.

• Dementia NIminorOthers · 25 June 2026Cricket Ireland announced Dementia NI as charity partner during the India series, supporting awareness and fundraising initiatives.
• Rahul Dravid (Dublin Guardians)flagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 May 2026Former India captain and coach Rahul Dravid acquired ownership of Dublin Guardians franchise in ETPL as part of an Indian consortium. Ravichandran Ashwin named as team captain and mentor. Dravid cited grassroots development and talent pathways as motivation for involvement.
• Chris Gayle (Glasgow Mugafians)flagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 May 2026West Indies cricket legend Chris Gayle joined as co-owner and Global Brand Ambassador for Glasgow Mugafians franchise. Gayle is one of cricket's most recognizable T20 players worldwide.
• Abhishek BachchanflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 11 May 2026Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan co-founded and co-owns the European T20 Premier League, serving as a major celebrity promoter and investor. Bachchan brings entertainment industry connections and star power to the league.
• Faf du Plessis, Jonty Rhodes, Heinrich Klaasen (Rotterdam Dockers)flagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 April 2026South African cricket trio led by former captain Faf du Plessis acquired Rotterdam franchise, with Klaasen receiving equity stakes. This pioneering 'Equity-as-Package' model offers players direct ownership in the franchise.
• John Abraham (Rotterdam Dockers Co-owner)flagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 April 2026Indian actor John Abraham joined as co-owner of Rotterdam Dockers franchise, bringing Bollywood star power and Indian market connections to the ETPL.
• ToyotacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 April 2026Toyota is Principal Partner to the ECB and Automotive Partner to Cricket Ireland and Cricket Scotland. The 'Good For Cricket' prize draw programme has raised over £290,000 for grassroots clubs. Toyota supports ECB's Get Set Weekend and inclusivity initiatives including All Stars bursaries and disability cricket programmes.
• Kyle Mills and Nathan McCullum (Edinburgh franchise)flagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 January 2026Former New Zealand internationals Kyle Mills and Nathan McCullum lead the ownership group for Edinburgh franchise, bringing cricketing expertise and regional appeal.
• Rules GlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 January 2026Joint venture partner with Cricket Ireland for the European T20 Premier League (ETPL). Rules Global is an India-based sports technology company that co-founded ETPL along with Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland, and Royal Dutch Cricket Association. The league aims to establish professional franchise cricket across Europe.
• Cricket ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 January 2026Founding partner in the European T20 Premier League alongside Cricket Ireland and Royal Dutch Cricket Association. Scotland's participation brings three franchise cities (Edinburgh, Glasgow) to the six-team ETPL.
• Royal Dutch Cricket Association (KNCB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 January 2026Founding partner in the European T20 Premier League, bringing Amsterdam franchise to the six-team league. KNCB collaborates with Cricket Ireland and Cricket Scotland to develop cricket across European markets.
• Steve Waugh (Amsterdam Flames)flagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 January 2026Former Australia captain Steve Waugh leads the ownership consortium for Amsterdam Flames franchise in ETPL. Waugh has signed marquee players Steve Smith and Mitchell Marsh for the franchise, bringing star power and cricketing credibility to the league.
• Glenn Maxwell (Belfast Irish Wolves)flagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 January 2026Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell co-owns the Belfast Irish Wolves franchise in ETPL. Maxwell's involvement attracts international attention and star power to the Irish market.
• EvaracoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProperty developer Evara is sponsor for women's cricket and Irish competitions, including Evara Irish Senior Cup and Evara National Cup. Supports grassroots cricket development and club competitions.
• SD Bell & CominorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnounced as Official Tea and Coffee Partner of Cricket Ireland, providing beverage sponsorship for international matches and events.
• Failte SolarminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFailte Solar is an official partner of Cricket Ireland, supporting Irish cricket operations.
• CorpayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorpay is an official partner providing business expense management solutions.
• MacroncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMacron supplies official merchandise and sports apparel for Cricket Ireland, including team kits and supporter merchandise.
• NV PlaycoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership extended to provide scoring, analysis, and live streaming tools to cricket clubs across Ireland through NV Play's cricket technology platform.
• Future TicketingcoreTechnology or IntegrationFuture Ticketing provides ticketing platform for international matches, handling ticket sales, refunds, and delivery services.
• GameDaycoreTechnology or IntegrationGameDay provides online membership management and player registration platform for cricket clubs across Ireland.
• Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSony acquired exclusive television and digital media rights to broadcast India's 2026 tour of Ireland on Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV, reaching massive cricket audiences in India and globally.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Cricket West Indies: Cricket West Indies is a direct ICC Full Member NGB peer; Chris Gayle's co-ownership of an ETPL franchise creates active commercial linkage with Cricket Ireland.
• Sri Lanka Cricket: Sri Lanka Cricket is a direct ICC Full Member NGB peer — comparable membership status, bilateral tour counterpart, and shared broadcast rights ecosystem through Sony Sports Network.
• Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI): The BCCI is the global anchor cricket NGB — both organizations share ICC Full Member status, host India's senior team, and operate the same match-rights revenue model via deals such as the Sony Sports Network agreement for Ireland.
• Cricket South Africa: Cricket South Africa is a direct ICC Full Member NGB peer — comparable governance scope, several SA internationals (Faf du Plessis, Jonty Rhodes, Heinrich Klaasen) own ETPL franchises directly tied to Cricket Ireland's commercial activity.
• New Zealand Cricket: New Zealand Cricket is a direct ICC Full Member NGB peer and Cricket Ireland's recent inaugural Test opponent; same governance scope, same international tour calendar as Cricket Ireland.
• Bangladesh Cricket Board: The Bangladesh Cricket Board is a direct ICC Full Member NGB peer with comparable Asia-subcontinental tour economics that drive broadcast value for Cricket Ireland.
• England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB): The ECB is the most direct cricket NGB peer — also a Test nation, also governing both professional and recreational cricket, and also sharing Toyota as a commercial partner. Comparable governance, formats, and broadcast-rights profile to Cricket Ireland.
• Cricket Australia: Cricket Australia is a direct cricket NGB peer; Australian legends (Steve Waugh, Glenn Maxwell, Glenn Maxwell) own ETPL franchises affiliated with Cricket Ireland, evidencing tight commercial crossover.

Direct peers

• Royal Dutch Cricket Association (KNCB): The KNCB is the third founding ETPL partner — same operating model (national cricket governing body), same league partnership, similar European market positioning.
• Cricket Scotland: Fellow ICC Associate with Full Member status and co-founding partner of the European T20 Premier League; Cricket Scotland is the closest peer in scale, geography, and partnership footprint to Cricket Ireland.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses6 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/irelandcricket
• YouTubeyoutube.com/cricketirelandtv
• Facebookfacebook.com/CricketIreland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cricket-ireland
• Instagraminstagram.com/cricket_ireland

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cricket Ireland