With the inaugural season of the European T20 Premier League (ETPL) set to begin on August 26, cricket and hockey came together in the Netherlands as several prominent names from both sports attended the India-Netherlands men’s fixture at the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026.
ETPL co-owner Abhishek Bachchan was joined at Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen by Dublin Guardians co-owner Rahul Dravid and Amsterdam Flames co-owners Steve Waugh and Jamie Dwyer. The group witnessed the fixture as the tournament preparations gather momentum ahead of the launch of the new European T20 franchise league.
Following the match, Abhishek Bachchan met the Harmanpreet Singh-led Indian hockey team and extended his best wishes to the players for the remainder of their World Cup campaign. Rahul Dravid, Steve Waugh and Jamie Dwyer watched the action from the stands.
For Abhishek Bachchan, the visit marked his first experience of attending a Hockey World Cup. Speaking about the event, the actor and ETPL co-owner said, “It’s my first time at the Hockey World Cup and it’s not disappointed. Everything about the experience has just been fantastic. My congratulations to all the organisers, to the host countries for putting on such a wonderful show. I’ve always followed hockey a lot, but it’s wonderful to see the flair that has come into the sport over the years. I really believe hockey is a very exciting sport.”
The appearance comes just days before the European T20 Premier League begins its inaugural season. The International Cricket Council (ICC)-sanctioned T20 franchise competition will feature six city-based teams and will be played from August 26 to September 20.
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The tournament will be staged across two venues in Europe — Voorburg in the Netherlands and Malahide in Ireland. The opening match will see Rotterdam Dockers take on Amsterdam Flames in Voorburg on August 26, marking the beginning of the league’s first season.
The ETPL aims to provide a platform for franchise cricket in Europe, with a mix of established cricket personalities and international sporting figures involved with the participating teams.
With its opening fixture now days away, the league is preparing to begin what its organisers describe as a significant new chapter for European cricket, while its co-owners continue to engage with sporting communities beyond the cricket field.
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