Bollywood Star John Abraham Buys Into Cricket, Becomes Rotterdam Dockers Co-Owner

John Abraham joins Rotterdam Dockers As Co-Owner Ahead of the upcoming European T20 Premiere League (ETPL)

Bollywood superstar and sports entrepreneur John Abraham has become a Co-Owner in the Rotterdam Dockers, one of the six franchise teams competing in the inaugural season of the European T20 Premier League from August 26 to September 20, 2026.

John Abraham joins a star-studded ownership and leadership group comprising cricketing greats Jonty Rhodes, Faf du Plessis and Heinrich Klaasen, alongside Managing Partner Madhukar Shree, as the Rotterdam Dockers gear up to make their mark in what promises to be an iconic moment for European cricket.

The ETPL will bring together six city-based franchises representing Glasgow, Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Dublin, Belfast and Rotterdam, creating a dynamic new chapter for the sport across Europe.

Featuring 32 matches, the competition will provide a world-class platform for emerging European talent to compete alongside some of the biggest names in international cricket while accelerating the growth and development of the game 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 franchise ownership group brings together an exceptional blend of some of cricket’s most respected names, including Steve Waugh, Rahul Dravid, Jonty Rhodes, Matthew Hayden, Faf du Plessis and Heinrich Klaasen, among others. Their association reflects the league’s ambition to combine sporting excellence with meaningful local engagement while establishing a new benchmark for franchise cricket in Europe.

About the European T20 Premier League (ETPL) 
The ETPL is a joint venture between Cricket Ireland and Rules Global (Rules X). The league is co-founded and co-owned by Abhishek Bachchan (leading Indian film star and multi-sport franchise owner), Saurav Banerjee (former Co-CEO of NDTV and Partner at Kalaari Capital), Priyanka Kaul (former CEO of Forbes & CMO NDTV Group), and Dhiraj Malhotra (former CEO of Delhi Capitals and former GM of BCCI), partners at Rules Global. The league is being developed in partnership with Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland, and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association. 

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