Jonty Rhodes, Faf du Plessis and Heinrich Klaasen have acquired the Rotterdam franchise in the European T20 Premier League ahead of its inaugural season later this year…reports Asian Lite News
Former South African cricketers Jonty Rhodes, Faf du Plessis and Heinrich Klaasen have joined forces to acquire the Rotterdam franchise in the European T20 Premier League (ETPL), Europe’s first ICC approved T20 cricket league.
Businessman Madhukar Shree has also joined the ownership group as managing partner for the Rotterdam based franchise.
The ETPL, which is set to launch later this year, will feature six city based teams representing Rotterdam, Glasgow, Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Dublin and Belfast. The inaugural edition is scheduled to run from August 26 to September 20, with 33 matches to be played across the participating cities.
Speaking on the acquisition, Rhodes said the tournament represented a major opportunity for cricket’s growth across Europe.
“The ETPL presents a compelling opportunity. We’ve already seen glimpses of Europe’s cricketing potential on the global stage, especially at recent ICC events. What the region now needs is a strong commercial framework to unify and elevate this ecosystem,” Rhodes said.
Former South Africa captain du Plessis described the investment as his first move into franchise ownership and said the timing was ideal given the growing popularity of cricket in Europe.
“Having experienced franchise leagues across the world, I see immense potential in what the ETPL is building. I’m looking forward to contributing both on and off the field and helping shape a strong cricketing culture within our team,” he said.
Klaasen, who is currently representing Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League, said the Rotterdam franchise aimed to build a strong connection with the city and its supporters.
“European cricket is clearly on the rise, and I’ve seen across the global T20 circuit how the right investment and structure can unlock a market’s full potential. We’re not just here to own a team, we’re here to build something the city and its fans can truly be proud of,” Klaasen said.
Abhishek Bachchan, Bollywood actor and co owner of the ETPL, welcomed the addition of the South African trio to the league’s ownership structure.
“The league continues to gather momentum with globally respected names investing in its vision. Together, we are committed to building something truly transformative for the sport in Europe,” Bachchan said.
Huib van Walsem, chief executive of the Royal Dutch Cricket Association, said the involvement of internationally recognised cricket figures would help strengthen the development of the sport in the Netherlands.
He added that their participation would support grassroots cricket, attract quality talent and create stronger pathways for young players in Dutch cricket.
ETPL co founder Dhiraj Malhotra said experienced franchise owners would play a crucial role in shaping the long term success of the competition and helping develop cricketing talent across Europe.
The Rotterdam franchise adds to a growing list of high profile owners involved in the league. The Amsterdam franchise is backed by Steve Waugh and hockey great Jamie Dwyer, while Belfast is co owned by Glenn Maxwell. Edinburgh has support from Kyle Mills and Nathan McCullum, while Glasgow is co owned by Chris Gayle.
