The inaugural European T20 Premier League (ETPL) Player Draft has been completed, with six franchises selecting 36 players from Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands ahead of the competition’s first season.
Held in Dublin, the draft saw each franchise pick six players from a pool made up of 12 players each from Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association (KNCB), creating balanced squads for the league’s debut campaign.
Among the leading selections, Rotterdam Dockers used their opening pick to secure Irish all-rounder Jai Moondra, who recently impressed during Ireland’s T20 International series against India. The franchise also added Netherlands internationals Michael Levitt, Ryan Klein, Vikramjit Singh and Saqib Zulfiqar, along with Scotland’s Jasper Davidson.
Belfast Wolves strengthened their squad by selecting experienced Ireland batter Paul Stirling and emerging left-arm spinner Matthew Humphreys as part of their inaugural roster.
R Ashwin, captain and mentor of Dublin Guardians, said the draft strategy focused on versatility rather than nationality.
“While majority of our picks were Irish, I think nationality comes second; it’s about the quality of the player and how they will fit into our mix. I do believe that, going into an auction or a draft, every single player that you pick must be a playable resource. Of course, there must be an exciting amount of skill that they put on display, but they must be very playable. If a player is unavailable, somebody should be able to seamlessly come in and fill up that role.”
Rotterdam Dockers co-owner Jonty Rhodes said Moondra had been a priority target.
“Jai Moondra was someone we were particularly keen to bring into the squad after the way he has announced himself on the international stage. He is an exciting young talent with tremendous potential, and we’re delighted to have secured him. Alongside Jai, we’ve put together a really exciting group of players from across Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands. We believe we have a strong, balanced squad with the depth and quality to be highly competitive, and we’re looking forward to seeing them come together when the league gets underway.”
The draft also completed the remaining squads.
Amsterdam Flames selected Curtis Campher, Kyle Klein, Tim Pringle, Aryan Dutt, Jordan Neill and Max O’Dowd.
Belfast Wolves drafted Matthew Humphreys, Fred Klaassen, Tim Tector, Paul Stirling, Zainullah Ihsan and Alexander Roy.
Dublin Guardians picked Benjamin Calitz, George Dockrell, Matthew Hollard, Craig Young, Noah Croes and Chris Greaves.
Edinburgh Castle Rockers selected Gareth Delany, Ross Adair, Jack Jarvis, Charlie Tear, Safyaan Sharif and Finlay McCreath.
Glasgow Cosmic drafted Brad Currie, Matthew Cross, Paul van Meekeren, Michael Leask, Oliver Davidson and Chris McBride.
Rotterdam Dockers completed their selections with Jai Moondra, Michael Levitt, Ryan Klein, Jasper Davidson, Vikramjit Singh and Saqib Zulfiqar.
The majority of Dutch players were selected by Amsterdam Flames and Rotterdam Dockers, while Edinburgh Castle Rockers and Glasgow Cosmic chose nine of the 12 Scottish players. Dublin Guardians and Belfast Wolves selected seven of the 12 Irish players.
The player draft featured franchise representatives backed by well-known names in world cricket, including Rahul Dravid, Steve Waugh, Matthew Hayden, Faf du Plessis, Heinrich Klaasen, Glenn Maxwell and Jonty Rhodes.
Glenn Maxwell, co-owner of Belfast Wolves, said he was pleased with how his team approached building its squad.
“Incredibly happy with how the draft went. It’s a new experience for me to be involved in starting a team from scratch. To go through the risk management process, building a squad and a team that we can put on the park and be really competitive has been a really great experience. Really happy how the draft went, we were able to get the picks that we needed, the playing skills we needed to give ourselves depth as well.”
Steve Waugh, co-owner of Amsterdam Flames, said the draft required flexibility as selections unfolded.
“The first couple of choices were the players we wanted. And we knew after that we would have to think on our feet, improvise and see what the other teams were going to pick. Being the first choice (first team in the draft sequence) there’s a big gap between some of the selections. You have to wait and see what goes on in front of you. We were all talking offline to make sure what the next selection is going to be.”
The European T20 Premier League is a joint venture between Cricket Ireland and Rules Global, developed in partnership with Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association. The inaugural season will feature players from Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands competing alongside established international cricketers.
Support independent community journalism. Support The Indian Sun.
Follow The Indian Sun on X | Instagram | Facebook
Support Independent Community Journalism
Dear Reader,The Indian Sun exists for one reason: to tell stories that might otherwise go unheard.
We report on local councils, state politics, small businesses and cultural festivals. We focus on the Indian diaspora and the wider multicultural community with care, balance and accountability. We publish in print and online, send regular newsletters and produce video content. We also run media training programs to help community organisations share their own stories.
We operate independently.
Community journalism does not have the backing of large media corporations. Advertising revenue fluctuates. Platform algorithms change. Costs continue to rise. Yet the need for credible, grounded reporting in a multicultural Australia has never been greater.
When you support The Indian Sun, you support:
• Independent reporting on issues affecting migrant communities
• Coverage of local and state decisions that shape daily life
• A platform for small businesses and community groups
• Media training that builds skills within the community
• Journalism accountable to readers
We cannot cover everything, but we work to cover what matters.
If you value thoughtful reporting that reflects Australia’s diversity, we invite you to contribute. Every donation helps us maintain the quality and consistency of our work.
Please consider making a contribution today.
Thank you for your support.
The Indian Sun Team
