New Delhi: Bollywood actor and sports entrepreneur John Abraham has joined the ownership group of Rotterdam Dockers as Co-Owner ahead of the inaugural season of the European T20 Premier League, scheduled to take place from August 26 to September 20, 2026.
John Abraham’s entry into the franchise marks a significant addition to the Rotterdam Dockers leadership team, which already includes prominent cricket personalities such as Jonty Rhodes, Faf du Plessis and Heinrich Klaasen, alongside Managing Partner Madhukar Shree.
The European T20 Premier League is set to introduce a new franchise-based cricket format across Europe, featuring six city-based teams representing Glasgow, Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Dublin, Belfast, and Rotterdam.
Spread across 32 matches, the league aims to create a global platform for emerging European cricketers to compete alongside established international talent while supporting the continued development of cricket across Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands.
Speaking about joining Rotterdam Dockers, John Abraham said, “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. I’m delighted to join this journey and contribute towards creating a platform that helps uncover and nurture the next generation of cricketing talent.”
Welcoming John Abraham to the Rotterdam Dockers family, Madhukar Shree, Managing Partner of the Rotterdam Franchise said, “John brings tremendous passion, energy and a proven track record of building successful sporting ventures. More importantly, he shares our belief in the immense potential of cricket in Europe. His involvement strengthens our vision of creating a franchise that not only competes at the highest level but also leaves a lasting impact on the growth of the game.”
Welcoming John Abraham to the ETPL family, Abhishek Bachchan, Co-Founder of ETPL, said, “John’s passion for sport and his track record as a sports entrepreneur make him a fantastic addition to the Rotterdam Dockers’ ownership group. His involvement reflects the growing belief in the potential of cricket across Europe and aligns perfectly with our vision of building a league that creates opportunities and accelerates the growth of the game. We are delighted to welcome him to the ETPL family.”
The ETPL ownership ecosystem also includes some of cricket’s most recognised names globally, including Steve Waugh, Rahul Dravid, Jonty Rhodes, Matthew Hayden, Faf du Plessis and Heinrich Klaasen, reflecting the league’s ambition to combine global sporting expertise with local market development and establish a new benchmark for franchise cricket in Europe.
