Cricket’s global expansion continues to gather momentum, with Europe emerging as the next major destination for franchise T20 cricket. In a significant development for the sport, Indian cricket legend Rahul Dravid has officially been unveiled as the owner of the Dublin franchise in the newly launched European T20 Premier League (ETPL), marking another major step in cricket’s push into untapped international markets.
The franchise, named the Dublin Guardians, was formally introduced during a landmark ETPL launch event held in Dublin on Monday. The announcement also confirmed the completion of the league’s six-team structure ahead of its highly anticipated debut season in 2026. The ETPL is being positioned as a long-term project to accelerate cricket’s growth across Europe through a cross-border franchise system.
Backed by multiple cricket boards, private investors and former international stars, the competition hopes to create new opportunities for emerging talent while strengthening the game’s footprint in Associate cricket nations. Speaking at the launch event, Rahul Dravid explained that the league’s broader developmental vision was one of the biggest reasons behind his involvement.
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Dravid said the ETPL offers a unique platform to support grassroots cricket and provide pathways for young players across Ireland and Europe. He also highlighted Dublin’s growing cricket culture and the sport’s potential to expand significantly in the region over the coming years.
The league is expected to attract several global T20 stars, creating a strong balance between international experience and emerging European talent. Players such as Mitchell Marsh, Tim David, Mitchell Santner, Liam Livingstone, Glenn Maxwell, Faf du Plessis and Heinrich Klaasen are all expected to feature in the competition.
THE OWNERSHIP IN ETPL 🏆🔥
●Dublin franchise – Rahul Dravid
●Belfast franchise – Glenn Maxwell & Rohan Lund
●Edinburgh franchise – Kyle Mills, Nathan McCullum & Rachel Wiseman
●Glasgow franchise – Vipul Aggarwal & Chris Gayle
●Amsterdam franchise – Steve Waugh, Jamie Dwyer… pic.twitter.com/4K9gxWMXIt— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 11, 2026
With Dravid’s inclusion, the ETPL has now finalised its six franchises representing Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Rotterdam and Amsterdam. The ownership groups feature several prominent names from the cricketing world. The Belfast franchise is owned by Glenn Maxwell alongside Rohan Lund, while the Edinburgh side includes former New Zealand cricketers Kyle Mills and Nathan McCullum. Glasgow’s franchise features businessman Vipul Aggarwal and legendary West Indies batter Chris Gayle.
Meanwhile, the Amsterdam franchise includes Australian great Steve Waugh, while the Rotterdam team is associated with former South Africa fielding icon Jonty Rhodes and Faf du Plessis.
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The launch event also featured ETPL co-founders Abhishek Bachchan, Saurav Banerjee, Priyanka Kaul, and Dhiraj Malhotra, underscoring strong backing from both the sports and business sectors. The ETPL has officially launched in partnership with Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland, and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association, underscoring the league’s ambition to establish Europe as a sustainable and competitive cricket market.
