Du Plessis, Rhodes, Klaasen form partnership to co-own ETPL team

Du Plessis, Rhodes, and Klaasen join forces to co-own and play for the ETPL team in Rotterdam

Co-owners to play for ETPL team Du Plessis and Klaasen will not only be co-owners of the ETPL team but also play for it, with Du Plessis as the captain. 'For me, the entry point was there's obviously a lot of leagues around the world, and as someone like myself, who is called a circuit player, as someone that can play in different leagues around the world, you want to make sure you align with the ones that are the best,' Du Plessis said. This was an attractive opportunity for Du Plessis to be part of something new and contribute to the growth of the league. ## Motivation behind joining ETPL Du Plessis explained that the motivation behind joining the ETPL was to be part of a league that is starting fresh and has the potential to grow. 'This really excited me around the opportunity of being part of something and growing something in a league that's starting fresh, in a tournament that's starting new, and then building something that is very South African,' Du Plessis said. He also wants to use his experience to build a team that can be successful and grow European cricket. ## Experience and background of co-owners Du Plessis has a lot of experience playing in different leagues around the world, and he believes that this experience will help him build a successful team. Klaasen, on the other hand, is a freelance cricketer who has announced his retirement from international cricket to focus on playing in T20 leagues. He is looking forward to playing in a new region and growing the game of cricket in Europe. ## Rotterdam as a gateway to Europe Rotterdam is the fifth ETPL franchise to be sold, following Amsterdam, Belfast, Edinburgh, and Glasgow. Dublin is the sixth team in the tournament. The likes of Steven Smith, Mitchell Santner, Mitchell Marsh, and Scott Edwards are already pencilled in for the ETPL, while there are talks ongoing with Tim David to take part. Rotterdam is a unique location as it is the gateway to Europe, with a mix of cultures and a real opportunity to grow the game of cricket in the region. ## Challenges and focus of ETPL The biggest challenge for the ETPL will be to sustain the competition in a region where cricket isn't the sport of choice. The franchises will need to make sure that they have a strong product and invest well in the team to make it an A-team product. The focus of the ETPL is not just to have a four-week period of cricket but to have a positive impact on the game and grow the pipeline of players. ## Franchise owners to play for the team The fact that franchise owners such as Maxwell, Du Plessis, and Klaasen will also be playing for the team is unique and sets a template for future cricket leagues. If successful, it could set a precedent for many current and ex-cricketers to invest in future cricket leagues and contribute to the growth of the game.