Legendary Indian cricketers Rahul Dravid and Ravichandran Ashwin are reportedly part of an Indian consortium set to acquire the Glasgow-based franchise in the inaugural European T20 Premier League (ETPL), marking their transition from on-field excellence to team ownership in the emerging European cricket landscape, with an official announcement expected later this month.
ETPL Attracts Major Cricket Investments
According to BBC Sport, the investment group has agreed to purchase the Glasgow franchise in the six-team tournament scheduled to run from August 26 to September 20, 2026.
The ETPL, organized in partnership with cricket boards of Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands, has attracted massive interest from former international players worldwide.
Franchises have been sold for £11.1 million ($15 million) over 10 years, with teams expected to operate on a salary budget of around £1.1 million ($1.5 million) per season.
South African Legends Buy Rotterdam Franchise
The Rotterdam-based franchise will be acquired by South African investors fronted by former Proteas stars Faf du Plessis, Heinrich Klaasen, and Jonty Rhodes.
Meanwhile, franchises in Amsterdam, Belfast, and Edinburgh were sold to Australian and New Zealand investors in January. The Dublin franchise remains the only unsold team, with interest from owners of The Hundred teams.
Will Ashwin Play for His Franchise?
Ravichandran Ashwin’s involvement raises the intriguing prospect of him playing in the ETPL. The 39-year-old off-spinner retired from international cricket in December 2024 and stepped away from IPL in August 2025, but expressed a strong desire to explore global franchise leagues.
Ashwin was initially set to play for Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League but suffered a knee injury during training in Chennai last December, requiring surgery and rehabilitation.
Dravid’s Special Scottish Connection
Rahul Dravid, who concluded his stint as India’s head coach in 2024, has a special connection with Scottish cricket.
The 53-year-old batting great played for Scotland as an overseas professional in 2003, scoring 600 runs in 11 National Cricket League matches, including three centuries.
His return to Scottish cricket as a team owner adds considerable credibility to the ETPL tournament and sends a powerful message about Scotland’s cricketing potential in the global franchise landscape.
