Photo Credit: Cricket Netherlands
The Dutch women’s cricket team has been given One Day International status with immediate effect. “That is a huge boost for us, because the door is now open to qualifying for the world championship in 2025,” said national coach Shane Deitz.
At the end of 2021, the Netherlands played a World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which was interrupted prematurely due to the outbreak of the omikron variant of the corona virus. The result was that the teams that had the highest ranking in the ODI ranking before the tournament were allowed to go to the World Cup.
The grapes were sour for countries such as Thailand, Scotland and the Netherlands, which, although they had proven that they had made great strides in technique, tactics and fitness, were nevertheless fishing behind the net.
The ICC has now decided to grant ODI status to five countries with immediate effect. In addition to the Netherlands, these are the United States, Papua New Guinea, Thailand and Scotland. By playing matches against these countries, the Netherlands can rise in the world rankings and possibly force placement for a qualifying tournament in the future.
KNCB High Performance Manager Roland Lefebvre: “The assignment of the ICC ODI status is a recognition of the hard work and good results of the Dutch women’s team over the past years. Qualifying for the WC Qualifiers in Zimbabwe and a historic win over Ireland show that the team is on the right track and can compete with the world’s second best. The appointment of women’s national coach Shane Deitz in March 2021 is starting to bear fruit and the ICC ODI status obtained will certainly contribute to the further professionalization of women’s cricket in the Netherlands.”
National coach Shane Deitz: “This is great news for women’s cricket in the Netherlands. We now have the opportunity to play some useful 50-over matches that look forward to the 2025 World Cup. We played good cricket in Zimbabwe and were competitive against Sri Lanka and Ireland, so I think the girls deserve this. But for all opportunities, they have to be seized. We have to prepare well so that we don’t waste this opportunity.”
