From Cricket Stars to Franchise Owners: The Players Who Now Own Teams

The traditional path for cricketers after retirement was usually coaching, commentary or cricket administration. But the rapid growth of franchise cricket has changed that picture. A growing number of former and current cricket stars are now moving beyond the field and becoming owners or co-owners of franchise teams.

The trend is particularly visible in Europe. The ownership structure of the new European T20 Premier League (ETPL) features several prominent former and current cricketers.

Former India captain Rahul Dravid is part of the ownership group of Dublin Guardians. South African stars Jonty Rhodes, Faf du Plessis and Heinrich Klaasen have joined forces as owners of Rotterdam Dockers. Du Plessis has an additional role—he is also the team captain. That means he leads the side on the field while also being part of its ownership group off it.

The ETPL also stands out from many other franchise leagues because of its structure. While leagues such as the Bangladesh Premier League, Indian Premier League, Pakistan Super League and Caribbean Premier League generally operate under the supervision of a single cricket board, the ETPL involves the cricket boards of Scotland, Ireland and the Netherlands.

The boards are involved as partners, while a group of Indian investors are the main investors, with Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan among the prominent faces of the group. The league's inaugural season features six city-based franchises across Europe.

Australia's Glenn Maxwell is another cricketer taking on two roles. He is a co-owner of Belfast Wolves as well as the team's captain.

Former Australia star Matthew Hayden has an even broader role. Alongside his ownership of Glasgow Cosmic, he is also the team's head coach.

Former New Zealand cricketers Kyle Mills and Nathan McCullum are among the owners of Edinburgh Castle Rockers. Former Australia captain Steve Waugh, meanwhile, is part of the ownership group of Amsterdam Flames.

The involvement of cricketers in franchise ownership is not limited to Europe. In India, former players are increasingly becoming involved in franchise cricket beyond coaching and commentary roles.

Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan has joined the ownership group of South Delhi Superstarz in the Delhi Premier League. Former India fast bowler S. Sreesanth is also taking on an ownership role in the Kerala Cricket League as a co-owner of Aries Kollam Sailors.

One of the biggest names to enter franchise ownership is West Indies legend Chris Gayle. He is a co-owner and mentor of Kochi Blue Tigers. The man whose explosive batting helped redefine T20 cricket is now also involved in owning a T20 franchise.

Former India fast bowler Zaheer Khan has taken his involvement in franchise ownership even further. He has joined the ownership group of Lanka Premier League side Jaffna Kings through Stockholm-based Anchor Sports AB. The same company also owns Vancouver Anchors in Canada's Super60 League, giving Zaheer links to the ownership of two franchises.

According to Indian news agency ANI, former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh is also part of the ownership group of Vancouver Anchors alongside Zaheer.

The changing landscape of franchise cricket is creating a new reality. Cricketers who once carried the bat, ball or captain's armband on the field are increasingly taking strategic decisions from the owner's seat.

They are now involved in decisions about player recruitment, squad building, team strategy and the business side of running a franchise.

The transition from cricketer to franchise owner is no longer an unusual development. As T20 and franchise cricket continue to expand, former players are finding a new role in the sport's growing commercial ecosystem—from Europe and India to Sri Lanka and Canada.