Dravid bets on new franchise league to grow cricket in soccer-dominated Europe

NEW DELHI, May 12 : Former India stalwart Rahul Dravid built a great career on judgement, patience and the discipline to leave the ball well alone - an instinct that has followed him from the crease to the boardroom.

So when he agreed to buy the Dublin franchise in the European T20 Premier League (ETPL), it was because he saw it not as a speculative punt, but as a safe bet with a greater purpose - to help cricket find its niche in Europe's soccer-dominated sporting landscape.

"I thought it was quite an exciting opportunity to be able to build something in Europe," Dravid told Reuters after being unveiled as owner of the Dublin Guardians in the six-team league backed by the cricket boards of Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands.

"I feel that while cricket may not be the number one, or the number two sport in this part of the world, it already has a great rich history and tradition of cricket."

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will be Dublin's captain and mentor in a league that will also feature teams based in Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Rotterdam and Amsterdam.

Cricket's 12 test-playing nations include only two from Europe - England and Ireland - though Scotland, the Netherlands, and Italy also played in this year's T20 World Cup.

CLEAR ADVANTAGE

Dravid believes ETPL held a clear advantage over competitions in newer markets, including those in the U.S. and the Gulf, which rely heavily on talent and audience from the South Asian diaspora.

"It really is a question of giving them the right kind of exposure and environment to be able to fulfil that potential," former India captain Dravid said.

"Giving them these opportunities to play with some of the best players in the world in a very organised league structure and also to