Having played for 35 years in the Belgian league, I have witnessed an ever-expanding number of clubs and an increasing interest in the game here. However, I never thought I’d see the day when the likes of Martin Guptill, Moeen Ali, Temba Bavuma, Faf du Plessis, Jason Roy and Alex Hales would come to play a week-long T20 tournament in Belgium. And yet last month, the inaugural EUT20 was held at 12Stars cricket club’s ground at Zemst, just outside Brussels.

Backed by wealthy Indian investors and with the support of the Belgian Cricket Federation and the local 12Stars club, 5 franchises competed over 18 games. While several matches sadly fell foul of the weather, the sun shone on an exciting final with Bavuma’s Gent Gladiators overcoming Guptill’s Antwerp Anchors, in front of a crowd of several hundred. It was the first time that a grass wicket had been laid in Belgium and thanks to the remarkable efforts of the groundstaff, the two wickets held up well over the week.

The winning Gent Gladiators team (EUT20)

Each team had to field at least one Belgian player and the locals acquitted themselves really well. It was also a great learning experience for players from several other associate countries including Scotland, Nepal, Italy, Denmark, Namibia and USA who rubbed shoulders with experienced and up-and-coming players from South Africa, England, West Indies, Australia and New Zealand.

All games were live on Premier Sports in the UK and Ireland with Niall O’Brien, Darren Gough, Dominic Cork and Alex Hartley sharing the commentating duties. Ambassadors who called in to view proceedings included Eoin Morgan and Chris Gayle while umpire Billy Bowden entertained the spectators with a range of increasingly eccentric signals!

For all Belgian cricketers and fans, it was truly a pinch me moment.

As an Irishman, the one missing ingredient for me was the absence of any Irish players. It would have been perfect for a couple of our established players or perhaps even some of our development players.

Fingers crossed, the tournament will return to Brussels in 2027. Keep an eye out and get the names in for the auction!