Experienced duo Roelof van der Merwe and Colin Ackermann have won a recall and been named in the Netherlands’ 15-player squad for this year’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
The pair weren’t part of the squad that saw the Netherlands book their place at this year’s World Cup via a runner-up finish at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier tournament earlier this year, but have been included in the list of 15 players to battle it out over six weeks in India during October and November.
Both van der Merwe and Ackermann bring a wealth of experience to a Netherlands side that will once again be captained by Scott Edwards, having played a starring role during last year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia.
Ackermann was the second leading run-scorer at the tournament for the Netherlands, while van der Merwe provided some handy cameos with bat, ball and in the field. Both players have plenty of experience in domestic competitions around the world.
The Netherlands will be hoping opening batter Max O’Dowd can contribute plenty of runs throughout the tournament, while star all-rounder Bas de Leede is expected to play a major role with both bat and ball.
Left-arm quick Fred Klaassen is out injured with a stress fracture.
“Obviously Fred would be gutted to miss out. He would have been a big part of the bowling attack,” head coach Ryan Cook said.
Spinner Tim Pringle is coming back from a major operation and is also carrying a couple of niggles and misses out, but the head coach confirmed that he would be one of the first choices as injury back-up.
Sybrand Engelbrecht, meanwhile, comes into the squad for the first time and will play his first senior World Cup after shining at the U19 Cricket World Cup in 2008 for South Africa.
There are also two development players, Kyle Klein and Noah Croes, who will be a part of the touring party, who may not be drafted in as injury replacements but will travel to gain experience.
Coached by the experienced Ryan Cook, the Netherlands will play two warm-up fixtures prior to the World Cup against Australia on September 30 and hosts India on October 3.
Their first contest at the World Cup will come against Pakistan in Hyderabad on October 6.
Netherlands squad: Scott Edwards (c), Max O’Dowd, Bas de Leede, Vikram Singh, Teja Nidamanuru, Paul van Meekeren, Colin Ackermann, Roelof van der Merwe, Logan van Beek, Aryan Dutt, Ryan Klein, Wesley Barresi, Saqib Zulfiqar, Shariz Ahmad, Sybrand Engelbrecht.
