Amstelveen [Netherlands], August 23 (ANI): Cricket and hockey came together in the Netherlands as European T20 Premier League (ETPL) co-owners and cricket legends attended the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 clash between India and the Netherlands at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen.

ETPL co-owner Abhishek Bachchan, Dublin Guardians co-owner Rahul Dravid and Amsterdam Flames co-owners Steve Waugh and Jamie Dwyer were present at the venue as India took on defending champions and hosts Netherlands, according to a release.

The gathering came ahead of the inaugural season of the European T20 Premier League, which is set to bring together cricket talent and franchises from across Europe.

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Following the match, Bachchan met the Harmanpreet Singh-led Team India and wished the side the very best for the remainder of its World Cup campaign, while Dravid, Waugh and Dwyer watched the action from the stands.

Speaking about witnessing the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 fixture, Abhishek Bachchan said, as per the release, 'It's my first time at the Hockey World Cup and it's not disappointed. Everything about the experience has just been fantastic. My congratulations to all the organisers, to the host countries for putting on such a wonderful show. I've always followed hockey a lot, but it's wonderful to see the flair that has come into the sport over the years. I really believe hockey is a very exciting sport.'

The European T20 Premier League, the International Cricket Council (ICC)-sanctioned T20 franchise league, gets underway on August 26. Featuring six city-based franchises, ETPL will run until September 20, with the tournament being staged across two venues -- Voorburg in the Netherlands and Malahide in Ireland.

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The opening fixture will see Rotterdam Dockers take on Amsterdam Flames in Voorburg, setting the stage for an iconic first season as European cricket takes another major step forward. (ANI)