India cricket legend Rahul Dravid has been announced as the co-owner of the final European T20 Premier League (ETPL) franchise based out of Dublin.
Dravid is part of an Indian consortium which has acquired the team, who will be called the Dublin Guardians.
The 53-year-old, who played 164 Tests and 344 one-day internationals for India and coached the national team from 2021 to 2024, is seen as a major coup for the league’s organisers.
“It’s absolutely brilliant to be involved. When I first heard about this it was really exciting,” Dravid said.
“I’ve always loved the passion and energy of cricket in Europe. The passion with which the players play the game.
“I’ve seen the passion of grassroots and also the T20 World Cup has shown the talent, too.
“That’s something we can grow and build. It would be a dream to see the talent on the world stage.”
Former India spin-bowling all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin will captain the Guardians.
He retired from Test cricket in December 2024 and stepped away from the Indian Premier League last summer, making him available to play in leagues in the rest of the world.
The ETPL is being run in collaboration with the cricket boards of Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands – with six teams based out of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Belfast, Dublin, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Bollywood actor and film producer Abhishek Bachchan is a part-owner of the league in conjunction with Rules Sport Tech, a private Indian company.
As reported by BBC Sport earlier this year, the franchises have been sold for £11.1m ($15m) over a 10-year period.
The tournament is set to be played from 26 August to 20 September with games staged in Rotterdam and Dublin during the first edition.
Cricket Ireland chair Brian MacNeice said it was a “landmark day for European cricket” having brought in “the best from world cricket” with those who are backing the franchises.
“It’s going to make a huge impact across Europe. I am excited by the calibre of people who are backing the teams.”
“It’s all about the visibility and development of the game in a region where it can grow.”