Mumbai, May 12: Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan has always been passionate about cricket, and this enthusiasm has led him to become a co-founder of the European T20 Premier League (ETPL). In a recent conversation, he described this moment as incredibly exciting for cricket.
Bachchan stated, “The response to ETPL has been very positive. We have announced the Dublin Guardians as the sixth team. Now, the league comprises six teams, including Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam. There is a lot of excitement for cricket in all these cities.”
He added, “The owner of the Dublin franchise is the legendary Indian cricketer Rahul Dravid. It was not difficult to connect him with the team. From the day we started discussions, he responded very positively. All talks and meetings have been very smooth.”
Bachchan further expressed his admiration for Dravid’s approach, saying, “I appreciate that he focuses not just on the business aspect but also on the quality of cricket. For him, the quality of players and the standard of the game are of utmost importance. We knew his focus would be on cricket. I am very happy to have him as an owner in ETPL.”
Regarding the players in ETPL, Bachchan mentioned, “Players under BCCI contracts cannot play outside the IPL, so we will miss Indian players in ETPL. However, many top international players are part of this league, making it a strong tournament. This is going to be an exciting time.”
When discussing cricket’s potential inclusion in the Olympics, Bachchan remarked, “This is a huge opportunity for the sport. If cricket becomes part of the Olympics, it will further enhance its popularity worldwide. Especially in the Indian subcontinent, the passion for cricket will be showcased on a much larger platform.”
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