Ajinkya Rahane recently announced his retirement from international and all cricket.
As it gets ready for the competition's first season, the Netherlands-based team confirmed Rahane's acquisition on Thursday, adding a player with a wealth of international experience to its roster.
Rahane has made over 190 international appearances across formats for the Indian team and is well-known for his composed demeanor and leadership abilities. The 38-year-old's illustrious career came to an end last week when he announced his retirement from international cricket.
Steve Waugh, co-founder and chief cricket officer of Amsterdam Flames, also expressed his delight at bringing the former India captain on board.
“Ajinkya Rahane represents everything you want in a professional cricketer—skill, resilience, humility and leadership. Throughout his career, he has earned enormous respect across the cricket world, not only for his performances but for the way he has conducted himself on and off the field.
I’ve seen first-hand the composure and leadership he brings under pressure, and those qualities help shape winning cultures. His experience, leadership and character will be invaluable as we build Amsterdam Flames into one of Europe's premier cricket clubs,” Waugh said as per ANI.
Speaking about joining Amsterdam Flames, Ajinkya Rahane said: "Cricket has given me so much, and I have always believed that players have a responsibility to leave the game stronger than they found it. Europe is entering an exciting phase and has the potential to become one of cricket's most promising frontiers.
What impressed me about Amsterdam Flames is the ambition to build something meaningful that creates a lasting impact both on and off the field. I'm excited to work alongside the management to build a successful franchise while helping inspire the next generation and strengthen cricket's future across Europe."
Abhishek Bachchan, Co-owner of the ETPL, welcomed Rahane to the competition: "Ajinkya Rahane joining Steve Waugh's Amsterdam Flames is a significant moment for both the franchise and the ETPL and another important milestone in our vision to accelerate the growth of cricket across Europe. Players of Ajinkya's calibre not only raise the standard of the competition but also inspire and mentor the next generation of European cricketers. We are delighted to welcome him to the ETPL family."
ETPL is Europe's first ICC-sanctioned T20 league. The first season is scheduled from August 26 to September 20, 2026. Across 33 matches, six city-based franchises- Glasgow, Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Dublin, Belfast, and Rotterdam will vie for honors to become European champions.