South African cricket legend Jonty Rhodes has become a co-owner of Rotterdam Dockers.
The franchise will compete in the six-team European T20 Premier League (ETPL).
The tournament begins in The Hague on August 26, 2026. The competition will then move to Malahide in Ireland. The final will be played there on September 20.
Rhodes said the rise of European associate nations at ICC events encouraged him to invest in the tournament. He believes the ETPL can help develop cricket across Europe.
“We know the local talent pool might be small compared to places like India, South Africa or the UK but we have all seen what Ireland, Scotland and the Dutch have done at ICC events. There is some real talent here in Europe and by bringing the ETPL we are giving more exposure to top international players, international coaching staff and a lot of our focus is what we can do beyond the tournament itself. “The time is right. People love an underdog and all of these European nations are underdogs right now. “As a co-owner, it’s that grassroots development that excites me. We want to inspire and to have young players coming through. Of course in Europe football is number one, and there’s tennis and field hockey, but I grew up playing all of those as well as cricket and that’s what we want to show. Franchise cricket is a huge opportunity in these countries.” Rhodes said, as quoted by The Independent
Star-Studded Ownership and Big Ambitions
Rhodes is part of a strong group of former international players involved in the ETPL.
Steve Waugh has a stake in Amsterdam Flames. Matthew Hayden is linked with Glasgow Cosmic. Rahul Dravid is attached to Dublin Guardians.
Glenn Maxwell is a co-owner of Amsterdam Flames and captain of Belfast Wolves. Nathan McCullum and Kyle Mills are involved with Edinburgh Castle Rockers.
The Dockers have also partnered with Bat For A Chance. The charity supports underserved communities with cricket equipment and development programmes.
“We’re looking at socially uplifting people through cricket. It’s a lot more than just dropping off bags of kit. “ Cricket is a tight network and people work together, so this is a chance to build on what they’ve already done and make it go even further.” he added.
Rhodes also wants to win. He joked about his rivalry with Waugh.
“I don’t want to be sharing a trophy with Steve Waugh, that’s for sure! “I’ve got a bone to pick with him – he was far too competitive when it came to winning trophies in the 90s. When it comes to the field of play, we know what it means to owners and players to win things. It’s not about putting on a new shirt in a different colour, or just turning up for an extended holiday in Europe, results are a big part of what we all do.” Rhodes added.
