Abhishek Bachchan’s ETPL Marks A New Chapter For Cricket In Europe

The blockbuster opening clash saw Amsterdam Flames, captained by Ireland’s Scott Edwards, take on Rotterdam Dockers, led by Faf du Plessis. Adding to the excitement was the rivalry between the two franchises, with Amsterdam led by Steve Waugh’s team and Rotterdam by Jonty Rhodes’ team.

The occasion was attended by cricketing legends Rahul Dravid, Steve Waugh, Jonty Rhodes and Matthew Hayden, as fans turned out in huge numbers to witness the beginning of a new era for cricket in Europe.

Commenting on the inaugural season of the ETPL, Abhishek Bachchan said:

“To see the stadium packed and the League finally come alive was an incredibly proud and emotional moment for all of us. This was the beginning of something we had believed in from day one — bringing world-class cricket to Europe and creating a new platform for the game and local players to grow.”

Commenting on the inaugural season, Dublin Guardians owner Rahul Dravid said:

“What made ETPL truly special was the incredible mix of world-class stars and rising talent. Seeing dynamic young players like Bas de Leede and Jai Moondra hold their own against top-tier opposition, alongside battle-tested stalwarts like Anrich Nortje running in with real pace, and Roelof van der Merwe bringing his years of experience, was exactly what we wanted to see. Having top international stars share the field and rub shoulders with the next generation elevated the standard of the entire tournament.”

ETPL was a pioneering partnership between the cricket boards of Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands, along with its founders Abhishek Bachchan, Priyanka Kaul, Saurav Banerjee and Dhiraj Malhotra.

The packed stands and incredible atmosphere at the opening match reflected the excitement and anticipation surrounding the League, marking a memorable beginning to ETPL’s inaugural season.

The venture marked another major step in Bachchan’s involvement in sports beyond his acting career. He had previously been involved in sports ownership across disciplines, including kabaddi and football in India.

With ETPL, Bachchan and his partners looked to build a professional T20 club competition in Europe, where the sport had traditionally had a smaller commercial and professional footprint compared with established cricketing markets.