'India's involvement is important': Cricket Ireland chairman welcomes Indian owners' investment in inaugural ETPL

‘India’s involvement is important’: Cricket Ireland chairman welcomes Indian owners’ investment in inaugural ETPL originally appeared on Cricket News.
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KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Cricket Ireland chairman Brian MacNeice has welcomed the strong Indian investment in the inaugural ETPL competition.
• Rahul Dravid owns the Dublin Guardians, with Steve Waugh and Jonty Rhodes also in ownership roles.
• MacNeice believes a strong, growing European cricket ecosystem is good for the global game overall.

Cricket Ireland chairman welcomes Indian owners’ investment in inaugural ETPL

European cricket is preparing for a landmark moment, and Indian influence sits right at its heart. With the inaugural European T20 Premier League set to begin in August, Cricket Ireland chairman Brian MacNeice has hailed the significant Indian involvement, helping to drive the ambitious new competition.

The ETPL, run in partnership by the cricket boards of Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands, will feature six city-based franchises and stands as Europe’s first ICC-sanctioned multi-nation T20 league.

Speaking to Hindustan Times Digital, MacNeice underlined how central Indian support is to that vision.

The chairman framed the partnership as mutually beneficial. “It’s important that ETPL has a platform to showcase the best players in Europe and, to some extent, in India, so having India’s involvement in the league is important, but we’ve gone further than that as well,” MacNeice said.

MORE: Cricket Ireland’s chief hopes that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi soon makes his debut

Indian owners lead the charge

MacNeice pointed to a star-studded ownership roster underpinning the league. “Apart from, say, Rahul Dravid, who’s kind of the owner of the Dublin Guardians, we’ve got Steve Waugh; we’ve got Jonty Rhodes kind of in the ownership structure,” the chairman explained of the high-profile names involved.

Beyond the owners, the playing rosters carry serious weight too. “Some of the players that have signed up for the franchises are some of the best players in the world, and they’re really excited about coming to Europe and playing in the European League,” MacNeice noted.

The chairman sees the league as a window through which Indian fans can discover European cricket. “What we want to do with ETPL is showcase the potential of European cricket so that everybody in India can see it, appreciate it, and get behind it,” MacNeice said of the goal.

For MacNeice, the benefits stretch well beyond Europe’s borders. “I believe that a strong, growing European cricket ecosystem is good for the global game,” he said, arguing that lifting the sport in one region ultimately strengthens cricket everywhere it is played around the world.

MORE: What is the European T20 Premier League? Start date, teams, format, owners and key players

Which Indian owners have a stake in the league?

Out of the six teams that are set to kick off the ETPL, three feature prominent Indian celebrities or sports stars among their ownership team. This includes Dublin Guardians, which features former ICT coach Rahul Dravid and former spin legend R. Ashwin among the various investors and owners. 

Beyond Dublin, the Rotterdam Dockers see South African cricketers Jonty Rhodes and Faf du Plessis team up with Indian actor John Abraham to make the Dutch side ready for European glory. Meanwhile, the Scottish side Glasgow Cosmic features the Universe Boss Chris Gayle teaming up with the India-based Mugafi Group.

A building block for growth

He backed his case with striking numbers about the region’s reach. “There are more member nations in Europe than there are in any other region in the world,” MacNeice said, adding that “after Asia, in terms of fan followership and digital engagement, the European index is the second-highest.”

That belief shapes how he views the venture. “ETPL is a fundamental building block of that kind of strengthening of cricket in Europe,” MacNeice said of the long-term platform. He signed off with a clear ambition: “The more that we can expose it in India and beyond, the better.”

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