Belgium in Germany 2023/24

The European Cricket League (ECL) is a T10 tournament that brings together clubs from across the continent. It was established in 2018 by Daniel Weston, an Australian-born cricketer living in Germany. The organisation behind the event is the European Cricket Network (ECN). The competition structure mirrors the UEFA Champions League, featuring a group stage followed by a knockout phase. The latter includes Super 3 matches, eliminators, qualifiers and a final.

Matches are usually played at neutral venues in Spain, often at the Cártama Oval in Málaga. Participation has grown significantly since the first season in 2019. The event began with eight teams and expanded to involve representatives from over 30 countries by 2022. Clubs from Belgium and Germany take part regularly. Belgian sides such as Ostend Exiles and Beveren CC compete alongside German teams like MSC Frankfurt and SG Findorff. These clubs have met in group stages, for example in Group D during 2022.

The tournament produces its own set of champions each year. VOC Rotterdam won the inaugural edition in 2019. Later titles have been claimed by Pak I Care Badalona in 2022, Dreux Ville Royale in 2023, Hornchurch in 2024 and Farmers in 2025. The competition provides a platform for players from nations that do not always feature in major international fixtures.

Both Belgium and Germany maintain their own domestic structures. The Belgian Cricket League operates under the Belgian Cricket Federation, which was founded in 1990. This league uses a franchise model with six teams. Germany’s top tier is the German Cricket Bundesliga, run by the Deutscher Cricket Bund, established in 1998 or 1999. That domestic competition also uses a T20 format. While national teams from both countries play bilateral series, there is no specific joint club tournament between them. The ECL serves as the primary shared competition for clubs from these two nations.