Netherlands has announced its 16-member squad for the ICC ODI World Cup Qualifier scheduled to take place in Zimbabwe in June and July. However, several players will be absent from the squad due to their county commitments. Colin Ackermann, Fred Klaassen, Paul van Meekeren, and Roelof van der Merwe will not be part of the team for the Qualifier.
Fast bowlers Brandon Glover and Timm van der Gugten have also been left out of the squad. On the other hand, all-rounder Bas de Leede, who is currently under a two-year contract with Durham, has been included in the team as his agreement allows him to participate in the Qualifier. While counties are expected to release their players for ICC events, the protocol is not enforceable to avoid potential repercussions for players’ county deals. The financial security provided by county contracts adds complexity to the situation, as players may face a difficult choice between representing their country or maintaining their county commitments.
The squad features the return of Logan van Beek, Clayton Floyd, and Saqib Zulfiqar, while 19-year-old Michael Levitt has earned a call-up. Captain Scott Edwards expressed confidence in the selected squad, emphasizing their preparation and the combination of experienced players and promising young talents. The team will compete in Group A against Zimbabwe, USA, Nepal, and West Indies on June 20, 22, 24, and 26, respectively. Group B includes Sri Lanka, Ireland, Scotland, Oman, and UAE. The top three teams from each group will advance to the Super Sixes stage, where they will face the teams they did not encounter in the group stage. The top two teams from the Super Sixes will secure a place in the World Cup, scheduled to be held in India later this year in October and November.
Netherlands gained valuable experience during their tour of South Africa and Zimbabwe in March, preceding the Qualifier. However, they faced challenges, losing the three-match ODI series 2-0 against South Africa and suffering a 2-1 defeat to Zimbabwe.
The Netherlands squad for the ICC ODI World Cup Qualifier includes Scott Edwards (captain, wicketkeeper), Max O’Dowd, Logan van Beek, Vikramjit Singh, Aryan Dutt, Vivian Kingma, Bas de Leede, Noah Croes, Ryan Klein, Teja Nidamanuru, Wesley Barresi, Shariz Ahmad, Clayton Floyd, Michael Levitt, and Saqib Zulfiqar.