"Excited to see where we can take European cricket": Rotterdam Dockers co-owner Jonty Rhodes ahead of ETPL
Mumbai, August 11
Former South African Cricketer Jonty Rhodes attended the Rotterdam Dockers Jersey Unveiling Event as a co-owner in Mumbai on Tuesday.
Addressing reporters on the sidelines of the Jersey unveiling event, Rhodes said Rotterdam Dockers are eager to make an impact and contribute to European cricket's growth.
The European T20 Premier League (ETPL) is set to take centre stage from 26 August to 20 September 2026, across two iconic venues: Voorburg Cricket Club in the Netherlands and Malahide Cricket Club in Ireland.
"The T20 Premier League is kicking off on 26 August, so it's just around the corner. And we, Rotterdam Dockers, are a franchise that's one of the six teams in the league. And we are really excited to see where we can take European cricket," Rhodes said.
Over 26 days and 32 matches, six teams from across Europe will compete for the league's first-ever title, bringing together some of the biggest names in world cricket alongside Europe's finest homegrown talent.
Global stars including Tim David, Steve Smith, Ravichandran Ashwin, Faf du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell, Heinrich Klaasen, Mitchell Marsh, Lungi Ngidi and Trent Boult will share the stage with leading European players such as Paul Stirling, Scott Edwards, Josh Little, Jai Moondra, George Dockrell, Aryan Dutt, Max O'Dowd, Richie Berrington and Matthew Cross, creating one of the most exciting player line-ups ever assembled in European cricket.
Each franchise will play every other team twice in a round-robin format. The team finishing at the top of the league table will qualify directly for the Final, while the second and third-placed teams will contest the Qualifier for the remaining place in the championship decider.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Great initiative by European cricket boards. The player lineup is incredible - Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, and our very own Ashwin! This will definitely help grow the sport in Europe. Jonty Rhodes is the perfect ambassador for this league.
Is it just me or does 26 days for 32 matches seem a bit tight? Anyway, the format looks interesting - round-robin with a Qualifier is classic. Good to see European players like Paul Stirling getting this platform. Nice to see cricket going global! 🌍
Great news for cricket lovers! The ETPL looks promising with world-class players and European talent. I just hope the scheduling doesn't clash with our IPL or important international matches. That said, any cricket is good cricket! 😄
Jonty Rhodes is a legend - his fielding changed the game! Good to see him invested in growing cricket in Europe. The Voorburg and Malahide venues are beautiful. Hope this league gives European players the exposure they deserve. All the best to Rotterdam Dockers! 💪
It's heartening to see cricket expanding globally. The mix of international stars and local European players is exactly what the sport needs. I'm curious to see how Ashwin's off-spin works on those pitches. And Jonty - always a gentleman of the game!
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.