On 30 April 2026, former South African fielding legend Jonty Rhodes announced his entry into team ownership by co-acquiring the Rotterdam franchise in the European T20 Premier League (ETPL). Rhodes described the transition from player and coach to co-owner as "something new and exciting," noting that while he has seen European cricket from the inside before, this is his first time entering a league with equity. Rhodes is part of a high-profile consortium that purchased the Rotterdam Dockers, the league's fifth franchise.
He is joined by former Proteas captain Faf du Plessis and current star Heinrich Klaasen. Madhukar Shree serves as the Managing Partner for the group.Rhodes highlighted the intent to bring a strong South African presence to the league, which was initially dominated by Australian and New Zealand-led ownership groups.
“I’ve been a player, I’ve been a coach, but never a co‑owner before — so this is something new and exciting for me. Maduka Sri, one of the co‑owners, and I have worked together since 2020 on the commercial side of cricket. We often discussed how to get involved with a franchise, not just as employees, but as co‑owners, and this was our opportunity. Because the first three teams announced were very Australia–New Zealand focused, we wanted to bring in a strong South African presence.”
Jonty Rhodes talks about impact of ETPL on European Cricket
Rhodes expressed a commitment to building a "lasting impact" and a strong commercial framework for the sport in Europe. He aims to leverage his South African connections to provide year-round exposure for European players. Rhodes plans to focus on growing the cricketing community and infrastructure in the Netherlands, Ireland, and Scotland.
His role involves moving away from the dugout to support the team’s administration and long-term vision. Rhodes stated that the European T20 Premier League (ETPL) provides the necessary commercial framework to unify, professionalize, and elevate cricket talent across Europe. He emphasized the league's role in creating sustainable, long-term structures to nurture talent and strengthen the sport's presence in the region.
