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After a 12-year absence from the ODI World Cup, the Netherlands are aiming for at least a semifinal berth, says their star all-rounder Bas de Leede.
The team's standout all-rounder and son of three-time World Cup participant for the Netherlands, Tim de Leede, expressed this ambition ahead of their inaugural match against Pakistan on Friday.
The Netherlands, having outperformed the West Indies and Ireland in the July Qualifiers, are the sole associate nation in the World Cup. They are anticipated to spring some surprises in their nine league matches.
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When questioned if the team would benefit from a carefree approach rather than succumbing to self-imposed pressures, Bas emphasized the potential gains from this experience. He stated, “Probably a mixture of both. I don't think any of the teams have got anything to lose. They've got something to gain, which is winning the World Cup. For us, it's special being back since 2011, but our aim is the semifinal. Even if we don't reach it, as long as we've played our best, we can hold our heads high. By targeting the semi-final, we might surpass expectations.”
The 23-year-old, one of the few professional cricketers in the team, expressed his excitement about cricket being broadcast live in the Netherlands for the first time in four years. “Making the semifinals isn't the sole factor in advancing cricket in our nation. Just being here is significant. The live broadcast in Holland is monumental for the sport,” he remarked.
Bas played a pivotal role in the July World Cup Qualifiers. The team, having not played since then, arrived early in India and underwent a week-long training in Alur. Unfortunately, their practice matches against Karnataka and World Cup warm-ups in Trivandrum and Guwahati were affected by rain.
Discussing the team's preparation, Bas mentioned, “Playing together is rare due to our scattered team. The match against Karnataka was a valuable experience in adapting to Indian conditions. While it's unfortunate that the warm-ups were rained out, we strive to simulate match situations during practice.”
On seeking advice from his seasoned father before departing for India, Bas shared, “Not much, really. He advised me to enjoy the experience. We discussed his World Cup memories, which was heartwarming. But beyond that, not much.”
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