Star Player of the Netherlands Demands the ICC's Attention for 'Bigger Nation' Status
The batting all-rounder Bas de Leede has said With two upset wins in the ongoing World Cup under their belt, the Netherlands have now called for the ICC's attention for "bigger nation" status. The Dutch, who are the only Associate Nation in the World Cup, first produced the biggest stunner of the mega event, defeating South Africa by 38 runs in Dharamsala. On Saturday, defending a modest 229, the Dutch bowled out Bangladesh for 142 for yet another upset result, this time by a handsome 87-run margin.
In the post-match interaction at Eden Gardens, De Leede said, "Every win we get is going to be big for us and for cricket in the Netherlands. We want to inspire young kids to take up the game.”
He also said, "And we also want to try and get the ICC's attention to start looking at us as a potentially bigger nation in the coming years. So definitely, every win helps."
However, it is still unclear whether the demand of Dutchmen for a test status for the country and more exposure will be entertained by the world body. Domestic cricket structure is one of the major criteria for awarding a country's Test status, and Dutch cricketers mostly play country cricket for exposure.