Indian cricket legends Rahul Dravid and Ravichandran Ashwin are preparing to enter the franchise cricket business. The pair are part of an Indian consortium that plans to buy the Glasgow-based team in the European T20 Premier League (ETPL).
Sources say the deal has already been agreed. The league is expected to confirm the franchise ownership later this month.
More Global Investors Join the ETPL
Another ETPL franchise based in Rotterdam is also close to a sale. A South African investment group is leading the bid.
The group includes former Proteas stars Faf du Plessis, Heinrich Klaasen, and Jonty Rhodes.
Earlier this year, investors from Australia and New Zealand purchased franchises in Amsterdam, Belfast, and Edinburgh.
The only remaining franchise yet to be sold is the one based in Dublin. Several interested parties are reportedly in discussions, including owners connected to teams in The Hundred.
Could Ashwin Play in the Tournament?
Ashwin’s involvement raises an interesting possibility. The veteran spinner may even play in the ETPL.
The 39-year-old retired from international cricket in December 2024. He also stepped away from the Indian Premier League last year. Since then, he has expressed interest in playing in global franchise competitions.
Ashwin almost joined the Big Bash League earlier. He had signed with Sydney Thunder but suffered a knee injury while training in Chennai.
The injury required surgery and rehabilitation, which delayed his plans.
During his international career, Ashwin played 106 Tests, 116 ODIs, and 65 T20 matches for India national cricket team. He also took an impressive 765 wickets across formats.
Dravid’s Strong Connection With Scotland
Dravid’s investment in the Glasgow franchise also has a personal connection. The former Indian captain once played for Scotland national cricket team as an overseas professional in 2003.
At that time, Scotland competed in English county limited-overs competitions. Dravid played 11 matches in the National Cricket League and scored 600 runs, including three centuries.
More recently, Dravid served as head coach of the India national cricket team from November 2021 to June 2024.
During his playing career, Dravid appeared in 164 Tests and 344 one-day internationals. He scored nearly 25,000 international runs and hit 48 centuries.
About the European T20 Premier League
The European T20 Premier League is a new competition developed by the cricket boards of Ireland, Scotland, and Netherlands.
Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan is one of the league’s investors alongside the company Rules Sport Tech.
Each franchise reportedly sold for about £11.1 million over a 10-year period.
Teams will operate with a salary budget of around £1.1 million per season. The first ETPL tournament will run from 26 August to 20 September.
The schedule overlaps with England vs Pakistan Test Series, which may prevent some multi-format players from participating.
However, players involved in The Hundred could still be available once their tournament finishes in mid-August.
Any England players with central contracts would still need approval from the England and Wales Cricket Board before joining the new league.
