Rahul Dravid and Faf du Plessis, two of the owners in the new European T20 Premier League (ETPL), have set out what they hope the tournament will achieve ahead of its first season.
Dravid: talent and fan experience
Dravid owns the Dublin Guardians, whose captain in the opening season will be India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. In a video released by the league, he pointed to Europe’s strong club cricket culture and the enthusiasm for the game across the continent. He said the competition gives promising players a platform to develop and show what they can do on a global stage.
The former India captain also said that entertaining supporters is a priority. He wants everyone involved to enjoy their cricket, and believes that when players are relaxed and having fun, the quality of the cricket fans watch will reflect it. The aim, he said, is for spectators in Europe to have a great experience both on and off the field.
Du Plessis: a new kind of challenge
Du Plessis, the former South Africa captain, is a co-owner of the Rotterdam Dockers. He said the chance to help cricket grow in Europe made the decision to join easy, and he liked the idea of playing in some of the continent’s best-known cities, something he enjoys as a franchise cricketer.
Ownership, he explained, is a different experience from playing. Having featured in leagues around the world, he is keen to apply that knowledge to building something new, with the goal of a competition that players want to come back to every year and that can last.
Tournament details
The inaugural ETPL will have six teams. It is scheduled to start on August 26, with the final on September 20. The league hopes to become a significant new fixture on the global franchise calendar while speeding up the growth of cricket in Europe.
