ETPL: Rahul Dravid acquires Dublin Guardians franchise for European T20 tournament

Published

3 months ago

May 11, 2026

India cricket legend Rahul Dravid has been announced as the co-owner of the final European T20 Premier League (ETPL) franchise based out of Dublin.

Dravid is part of an Indian consortium which has acquired the team, who will be called the Dublin Guardians and will be captained by former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

The 53-year-old, who played 164 Tests and 344 one-day internationals for India and coached the national team from 2021 to 2024, is seen as a major coup for the league’s organisers.

“It’s absolutely brilliant to be involved. When I first heard about this it was really exciting,” Dravid said.

“I’ve always loved the passion and energy of cricket in Europe. The passion with which the players play the game.

“I’ve seen the passion of grassroots and also the T20 World Cup has shown the talent, too.

“That’s something we can grow and build. It would be a dream to see the talent on the world stage.”

Former India spin-bowling all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin, who retired from international cricket, will captain the Guardians.

The ETPL is being run in collaboration with the cricket boards of Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands – with six teams based out of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Belfast, Dublin, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Bollywood actor and film producer Abhishek Bachchan is a part-owner of the league in conjunction with Rules Sport Tech, a private Indian company.

As reported by BBC Sport earlier this year, the franchises have been sold for £11.1m ($15m) over a 10-year period.

The tournament is set to be played from 26 August to 20 September with games staged in Rotterdam and Dublin during the first edition.

Cricket Ireland chair Brian MacNeice said it was a “landmark day for European cricket” having brought in “the best from world cricket” with those who are backing the franchises.

“It’s going to make a huge impact across Europe. I am excited by the calibre of people who are backing the teams.”

“It’s all about the visibility and development of the game in a region where it can grow.”

Swansea reject Hull City bid for Championship top scorer Zan Vipotnik

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20 seconds ago

August 10, 2026

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Zan Vipotnik, wearing Swansea's white home shirt, points with his left arm outstretched.

Vipotnik scored 23 league goals, as Swansea finished mid-table in 11th. Richard Pelham / Getty Images

Hull City have had a bid rejected for Swansea City forward Zan Vipotnik.

Newly-promoted Hull’s offer was below Swansea’s valuation of the Slovenian, who finished as top scorer in the Championship last season.

Vipotnik scored 23 league goals as Swansea finished mid-table in 11th – nine points off sixth-placed Hull, who were promoted to the Premier League via the play-offs.

The Slovenia international joined Swansea from Bordeaux in summer 2024 but managed only seven goals in the second tier in his maiden season in British football. He was significantly more profilic last term and agreed a new Swansea contract until 2030 in March.

Swansea last week completed the signing of Scotland international forward Ross Stewart following his departure from Southampton, and also have Republic of Ireland striker Adam Idah on the books. Head coach Vitor Matos has insisted that he can keep all three forwards happy, however, and said the signing of Stewart was not related to Vipotnik’s future.

Hull, who will compete in the top flight for the first time since 2016-17 this season, have already signed goalkeepers Konstantinos Tzolakis in a club-record deal from Olympiacos and Jack Butland from Rangers this summer, as well as midfielders Jens Hjerto-Dahl and Elliot Stroud from from Tromso and Mjallby, respectively.

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Neumann back in Wales' extended WXV training squad

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6 minutes ago

August 10, 2026

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Wing Lisa Neumann returns from injury as head coach Sean Lynn names 14 uncapped players in a 46-strong squad preparing for four autumn Tests.

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Jose Mourinho: How Manchester United missed out on first choice to replace Sir Alex Ferguson

Published

13 minutes ago

August 10, 2026

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It is felt now that Mourinho would have had a greater impact if he had directly followed Ferguson.

For a start, his personality suggested he would have taken on the task of succeeding the Scot by believing he could do better.

Whereas under Moyes, there was hesitation in the transfer market, it is hard to imagine Mourinho being similarly reluctant to execute deals.

Thiago Alcantara’s agreed move from Barcelona would have been completed, sources stress.

United would also have avoided the mess they got into around Marouane Fellaini – who moved from Everton for £27.5m on deadline day, but only after the club had missed out on a lower release fee.

Fellaini, it is claimed, simply would not have been signed.

Mourinho went so far as giving United his view on a number of players, including Italy midfielder Daniele de Rossi.

Not only it is safe to assume Mourinho would have signed players, the feeling is he would also have got more from the experienced ones he was inheriting.

It is generally accepted now that no-one could have extracted more from Ferguson’s final title-winning squad than the Scot, and they significantly overperformed. But the fall off, to seventh, was dramatic and unexpected.

Even the players themselves have struggled to identify specific reasons. The feeling remains that Mourinho’s presence would have pushed them.

With clarity and expression, Ferguson uses the documentary to recount Mourinho’s tears as he explained why he could not join.

It was a huge blow to Manchester United. Arguably, they are still to fully recover.