Actor John Abraham joins Rotterdam Dockers as co-owner ahead of inaugural European T20 Premier League

Bollywood actor John Abraham has expanded his footprint in the sporting world by becoming a co-owner of the Rotterdam Dockers, one of the six franchises set to compete in the inaugural European T20 Premier League (ETPL), scheduled to be held from August 26 to September 20.

Abraham joins an experienced leadership group that includes former South Africa stars Jonty Rhodes, Faf du Plessis, Heinrich Klaasen, and Managing Partner Madhukar Shree. The ETPL will feature six city-based franchises representing Glasgow, Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Dublin, Belfast, and Rotterdam, with a total of 32 matches to be played during the tournament.

The league has been launched with the aim of accelerating cricket’s growth across Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands, while providing a new platform for emerging talent and expanding the sport’s presence in Europe.

Speaking after becoming a part of the Rotterdam Dockers ownership group, Abraham expressed his excitement about the league’s long-term vision and the potential of cricket in Europe.

“Cricket has the power to inspire, unite and create opportunities, and that’s exactly what excites me about the European T20 Premier League. Europe represents one of cricket’s most exciting growth markets, and Rotterdam Dockers has the vision, leadership and ambition to build something truly special,” John Abraham was quoted as saying by NDTV Sports.

The actor also reiterated that Europe is among the fastest-growing regions for cricket and believes the Rotterdam-based franchise possesses the right combination of vision, leadership, and ambition to establish a unique identity in the competition.

ETPL co-founder Abhishek Bachchan welcomed Abraham to the franchise ownership group, highlighting his passion for sports and previous experience as a sports entrepreneur.

“John’s passion for sport and his track record as a sports entrepreneur make him a fantastic addition to the Rotterdam Dockers’ ownership group,” said Abhishek.

The European T20 Premier League has assembled an impressive list of owners and stakeholders from the cricketing world. Alongside Abraham, the ownership groups across the six franchises feature legendary names such as Steve Waugh, Rahul Dravid, Jonty Rhodes, Matthew Hayden, Faf du Plessis, and Heinrich Klaasen.