The inaugural European T20 Premier League (ETPL) is set to kick off its first season on August 26. Glenn Maxwell, who is both the co-owner and captain of the Belfast Wolves, alongside Ravichandran Ashwin and Scott Edwards, has expressed optimism regarding the tournament’s potential to enhance cricket’s growth across Europe. Maxwell shared insights about the squad-building process during the draft, highlighting the collaboration between seasoned international players and emerging talent in the region. The ETPL aims to create a platform that showcases cricket’s appeal and fosters its development in the continent.
In fact, I captained him in a club championship final in Chennai about 13 years ago. I was pretty much signed up straight away.
They said they wanted me involved in the team and shared their vision for the franchise. “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.
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.
