![\"Jonty](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/netherlands\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Jonty-Rhoades-and-Faf-du-Plessis.jpg\")
Jonty Rhodes and Faf du Plessis (PC: ETPL)<\/p>\n\t\tJonty Rhodes and Faf du Plessis (PC: ETPL)<\/p>\n
The landscape of global franchise cricket is expanding, and former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis is at the forefront of its latest European frontier. Teaming up with compatriots Heinrich Klaasen and Jonty Rhodes, alongside managing partner Madhukar Shree, du Plessis has acquired the Rotterdam franchise in the newly minted European T20 Premier League (ETPL).<\/p>\n
Sanctioned by the ICC, the inaugural ETPL is set to introduce high-octane T20 cricket across Europe from August 26 to September 20. The 33-match tournament will feature six city-based franchises: Glasgow, Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Dublin, Belfast, and Rotterdam. The league boasts a strong ownership roster, including Chris Gayle (Glasgow), Glenn Maxwell (Belfast), Steve Waugh and Jamie Dwyer (Amsterdam), and the Kiwi duo of Kyle Mills and Nathan McCullum (Edinburgh).<\/p>\n
For du Plessis, stepping into ownership is driven by more than just high-profile associations. When the ETPL proposition crossed his desk, he was instantly captivated by the \u201cexcitement of the raw potential that there is\u201d in these emerging cricketing territories.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you go to play in new competitions, you want to go to places that you haven\u2019t been really before,\u201d du Plessis said, highlighting the allure of the Netherlands, Ireland, and Scotland. \u201cI know well how that\u2019s gone over the last few years, what amazing World Cups we saw from those countries. So that was exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n
The core motivation for du Plessis and Klaasen lies in building sustainable frameworks rather than fulfilling transient playing contracts.<\/p>\n
\u201cI see the potential in a tournament like this\u2026 I see what it\u2019s done to local cricket,\u201d he noted. \u201cThat is exciting when you are a part of something that gives you a little bit more purpose than just going to play and just being a hired gun all around the world and trying to go in, play, get out, leave.\u201d<\/p>\n
Acknowledging the responsibility of franchise ownership, du Plessis emphasised community integration. \u201cWhat are we doing to make sure that we just don\u2019t go into Rotterdam three, four weeks of the year, go in, go out, and you do nothing apart from that,\u201d he said. \u201cThe responsibility then lies, what can we do to grow local cricket? What can we do to create awareness?\u201d<\/p>\n
Addressing the commercial viability of ETPL, the South African veteran remains focused on organic growth over immediate returns.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe vision is just to create an A-class product,\u201d du Plessis explained. \u201cIf you have a good product, if you bring world-class players, the fans will come. The people will watch.\u201d<\/p>\n
He dismissed the idea of quick profits, stressing patience in building a legacy. \u201cAs an entry point, to go \u2018money, money, money, money,\u2019 I think that\u2019s not really what the vision of this is. It might take a little bit of time, but how great will it be in a few years, we look back and you sgo, look how this thing has evolved,\u201d the former South Africa captain concluded.<\/p>\n