CHENNAI: Ahead of the inaugural edition of the European T20 Premier League, Rotterdam Dockers unveiled their official jersey, marking another milestone in the build-up to the launch of a new era for cricket in Europe.
Rotterdam Dockers co-owners Jonty Rhodes and John Abraham, founder & managing director Madhukar Shree, and Fireflies.ai co-founder and CEO Krish Ramineni unveiled the team jersey at an event in Mumbai on Tuesday. The franchise also announced Fireflies.ai as its official jersey partner, with Ramineni joining Rotterdam Dockers as a founding investor.
“Rotterdam is the gateway to Europe, and the Rotterdam Dockers have a unique opportunity to become a backbone for cricket in the region, much like the dockers who built the city. Being part of the ETPL is exciting because it gives us a platform to develop the young talent already present in Europe, particularly in the Netherlands, while helping take the game forward across the continent," Rhodes said while speaking at the unveiling of the Dockers jersey. "We want to compete for the trophy from day one, but our bigger ambition is to build something that can have a lasting impact on the growth of cricket in Europe,” he added.
John Abraham said: “Sport has always been a big part of my life, and being part of the European T20 Premier League gives us an opportunity to contribute to the growth of cricket in Europe, particularly by developing grassroots talent across the Netherlands, Ireland and Scotland. With the calibre of players involved and the vision behind the league, I genuinely believe the ETPL can play a role in making cricket a truly global sport, and I’m incredibly excited to be part of this journey with Rotterdam Dockers.”
Dockers will begin their campaign against Amsterdam Flames in the opening fixture of the inaugural ETPL on August 26 in Voorburg. Co-owned by Rhodes, Abraham and Faf du Plessis, the franchise will be led by former South Africa captain Du Plessis and brings together a compelling blend of international experience and Dutch talent. The squad features some of the biggest names in T20 cricket, including Heinrich Klaasen, Anrich Nortje, Logan van Beek and Roelof van der Merwe, alongside emerging talent from the Netherlands.