Former India captain and cricketing legend Rahul Dravid has been unveiled as the owner of the Dublin Guardians franchise in the newly launched European T20 Premier League (ETPL), marking a significant step in the expansion of franchise cricket into Europe. The announcement was made on Monday at a formal event where all six participating teams were officially confirmed, completing the league’s inaugural line-up.
Dravid expressed strong enthusiasm for the project, emphasising its developmental vision rather than purely commercial ambitions. He highlighted that the ETPL’s broader objective of nurturing cricket across Europe—particularly in Ireland and emerging cricketing regions—was a decisive factor in his involvement. According to him, Dublin already possesses a passionate cricket following, and the region holds substantial untapped potential for growth at grassroots level.
He stated that shaping young talent has always been central to his cricketing philosophy, and he views the ETPL as a meaningful platform to support the next generation of players while strengthening the sport’s global footprint.
The Dublin Guardians will be led on the field by former India international all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin, bringing considerable experience and leadership to the side. The team is set to compete against franchises based in Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam, forming a uniquely cross-border European competition structure.
The league is being developed in collaboration with Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland, and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association, aiming to establish a sustainable franchise-based model that extends beyond traditional cricket strongholds. Organisers expect participation from several high-profile international stars, including Mitchell Marsh, Tim David, Mitchell Santner, Liam Livingstone, Glenn Maxwell, Faf du Plessis, and Heinrich Klaasen.
The opening season of the ETPL is scheduled to run from 26 August to 20 September, positioning itself as a late-summer global T20 tournament designed to attract both emerging European talent and established international professionals.
The launch event was attended by several prominent figures from the sporting and entertainment sectors, including co-founder Abhishek Bachchan, alongside Sourav Banerjee, Priyanka Kaul, and Dheeraj Malhotra. Key representatives from European cricket boards were also present, including Brian MacNeice (Chairman, Cricket Ireland), Sarah Keane (CEO, Cricket Ireland), Roland Lefebvre (High Performance Director, Cricket Netherlands), and Trudy Lindblade (CEO, Cricket Scotland).
Teams in ETPL Inaugural Season
| Team | Base City | Captain |
|---|---|---|
| Dublin Guardians | Dublin | R. Ashwin |
| Belfast Franchise | Belfast | Not announced |
| Edinburgh Franchise | Edinburgh | Not announced |
| Glasgow Franchise | Glasgow | Not announced |
| Rotterdam Franchise | Rotterdam | Not announced |
| Amsterdam Franchise | Amsterdam | Not announced |
The ETPL’s structure signals an ambitious attempt to broaden cricket’s footprint across non-traditional markets while leveraging star power to accelerate fan engagement and commercial viability.