Faf du Plessis Becomes Franchise Team Owner With Ex-Teammate

Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli [Image Credits- AFP]

Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis, along with Heinrich Klaasen and legendary fielder Jonty Rhodes, has stepped into franchise ownership by forming a consortium to acquire the Rotterdam team in the upcoming European T20 Premier League (ETPL) 2026.

The move marks a major development in franchise cricket, with active and former players like Heinrich Klaasen and Rhodes continuing to expand their influence beyond the field.

Adding further interest, Faf du Plessis is also expected to lead the side on the field, creating one of the first blends of leadership and ownership in the same setup of franchise cricket.

What Is The ETPL?

The inaugural European T20 Premier League is scheduled to begin on August 26, 2026, and will run until September 20, 2026, following the same old T20 cricket setup as the structure.

The tournament will feature six franchises representing Amsterdam, Belfast, Edinburgh, Dublin, Rotterdam, and Glasgow, with matches hosted across Ireland and the Netherlands.

The 2026 ETPL include a league stage followed by playoffs and a final. Teams such as Amsterdam Flames, staked by Steve Waugh, Irish Wolves associated with Glenn Maxwell, Edinburgh Castle Rockers joined by Kyle Mills and Nathan McCullum, and Glasgow Mugafians, staked with Chris Gayle, underline the expansion of the league.

While the full schedule is yet to be released, the tournament is being backed by cricket boards from Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands.

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Faf, Heinrich Klaasen To Take Over Franchises

The Rotterdam franchise has quickly become one of the most talked-about teams in the competition after Faf du Plessis, Klaasen, and Rhodes joined hands to take ownership.

For Klaasen, this step comes at a time when he is at the peak of his T20 powers. Representing Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2026, the explosive batter has amassed 414 runs in just nine innings at a remarkable average of 59.14 and a strike rate of 157.41.

With consistent performances, including scores of 65, 59, and 62, Heinrich Klaasen has established himself as one of the most destructive middle-order batters in the format.

His involvement in franchise ownership further suggests his growing interest in the sport despite retiring from all formats of international cricket last year.

Faf To Captain And Own Rotterdam

In a major announcement ahead of the tournament, as per T20 Tracker, Faf du Plessis is set to lead the Rotterdam franchise in ETPL 2026. Apart from being a co-owner, he will also captain the team, bringing his vast leadership experience into play.

Du Plessis has previously captained multiple franchise teams across leagues and is known for his excellent leadership skills. However, the ownership part acts as a hindrance.

Can Faf Play and Own A Cricket Team at the Same Time?

In most major T20 leagues, a player is not allowed to own a franchise and play for it simultaneously due to strict conflict of interest rules.

Competitions like the IPL maintain a clear separation between ownership and playing roles to avoid issues such as selection bias or salary cap manipulation.

Global cricket regulations also discourage dual roles that could compromise the integrity of the game. For instance, if a player-owner underperforms, it becomes difficult for management to drop or discipline them fairly.

However, there are exceptions in smaller or emerging leagues, where players may hold minority stakes or act as ambassadors while still participating on the field.

In the case of the ETPL, it remains to be seen how the league structures such roles. If Faf du Plessis operates as a shareholder rather than a primary owner, his participation as a player-captain could still align with league guidelines.

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