Glenn Maxwell, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Scott Edwards are optimistic about the upcoming European T20 Premier League (ETPL), which is set to kick off its inaugural season on August 26. They believe the tournament could significantly enhance the growth of cricket in Europe. The ETPL will feature a mix of experienced international players and rising talents from the region. Maxwell, who serves as both co-owner and captain of the Belfast Wolves, shared insights on the squad-building process during the draft, highlighting the excitement surrounding the league’s debut.
I was pretty much signed up straight away. Overall, we feel we have built a strong and balanced side for the Wolves,” Maxwell said in a statement issued by the tournament on Monday. “Incredibly happy with how the draft went for the Belfast Wolves. It was a new experience for me to be involved that heavily, starting a team from scratch and going through the list management process. Building a squad from the ground up is not easy, but we had a clear plan. “We were able to get the picks we needed and the playing skills we needed to complete our list. We have good depth in both batting and bowling, which will be crucial in a long tournament. “Me and Rahul Dravid bhai have shared a great bond over the last five years. He has been the coach of India, and I learned a lot about leadership while playing under him. Now, we will be working together again this time around for the Dublin Guardians. “I think he also got to understand my game better over time and we share a very special rapport. We are building a close-knit team that believes in growth and improvement every single day. Our second connection is Irish cricket and the European circuit, which excites us a lot. We see huge potential there and want to be collaborative. “It was a bit of a surprise. I was out having dinner with my partner when I got a call from the co-owners of Amsterdam Flames, Jamie Dwyer and Steve Waugh. They got straight to the point. I was super excited. “They were very well prepared and knew exactly what they wanted from the team and the players. That made my decision easy. I am really looking forward to playing for the Amsterdam Flames in the ETPL,” he added.
In fact, I captained him in a club championship final in Chennai about 13 years ago.
They said they wanted me involved in the team and shared their vision for the franchise.
