Dutch skipper Babette de Leede targets top-eight finish at Women's T20 WC
New Delhi, May 29
Netherlands captain Babette de Leede has set a strong goal for her team ahead of their first appearance at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup. The Dutch team aims to secure a top-eight finish to ensure automatic qualification for the next edition.
The Netherlands women's team will compete in the T20 World Cup for the first time when the event starts on June 12 in England and Wales. They are grouped with top teams like Australia, India, South Africa, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. The Dutch enter this tournament as the lowest-ranked team.
Despite the tough competition, de Leede believes her team can surprise others. "Our goal is to win at least two games and finish in the top eight to automatically qualify for the next T20 World Cup. It is exciting to play against some of the best teams in the world for the first time.
"Being the newcomers and underdogs, as the lowest-ranked team, might work in our favor to surprise some opponents and create some upsets. In any case, it will be valuable for us to meet some of our idols and learn from them," de Leede told ICC.
The Netherlands are currently preparing for the tournament through a tri-series with hosts Scotland and Bangladesh before starting their World Cup campaign on June 14. The skipper noted the team's unity and depth as key strengths going into the tournament.
"Our biggest strength is that we really play as a team. We know each other well, we are friends off the field, and we want each other to succeed. The team is also very talented. In the Qualifier, different players stood out in every game, which was great to see. I expect the same in the World Cup," she said.
De Leede also highlighted fast bowler Isabel van der Woning and top-order batter Sterre Kalis as players to watch.
"Seamer Isabel van der Woning and top-order batter Sterre Kalis have been in great form since the Qualifier, so I am excited to see them shine at the World Cup," de Leede added.
With the tournament taking place close to home, de Leede expects strong support from travelling Dutch fans.
"The fact that the competition is in England is also very special. It feels almost like a home World Cup for us, with conditions similar to those in the Netherlands regarding pitches and weather.
"We expect a large crowd of orange at all our games, including friends, family, and other fans of Dutch cricket. It will be a unique experience that we are looking forward to," she said.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Lovely to see smaller nations getting a platform! The women's game desperately needs more teams competing at this level. Hope Netherlands pull off some upsets and make the tournament interesting. Also glad the Dutch team is so united - that's half the battle won.
Honestly, finishing top 8 is a realistic goal for them. They need to beat at least two from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and maybe even South Africa on a good day. Good luck to the Dutch team! 🇳🇱
I appreciate the positive attitude but India should still beat them comfortably. However, what I really like is how Babette talks about 'playing as a team' and 'different players stepping up' - that's something our own team could learn from! Talent alone doesn't win tournaments.
Very humble and grounded captain. Meeting their idols and learning from them while competing - that's the spirit of sport! 🌟 Their fans travelling in orange will be a treat to watch. Hope they enjoy every moment and give us some tense matches! India should still win though 😊
My only concern is that underdog teams like Netherlands sometimes spring surprises in women's cricket because the gap isn't as huge as in men's. India need to be careful and not take them lightly! Otherwise, great story - love seeing cricket grow globally.
J We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.