Giant-killers Netherlands, following upset wins over South Africa and Bangladesh in the ongoing World Cup, seek the International Cricket Council (ICC)’s attention for “bigger-nation” status, seamer all-rounder Bas de Leede said.
The Dutch, being the only Associate nation in this World Cup, first produced the biggest upset of this edition when they beat South Africa by 38 runs in Dharamsala. On Saturday at Eden Gardens, defending a modest 230-run target, they bowled out Bangladesh for 142 for yet another upset result, this time by a handsome 87-run margin.
“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,” De Leede told reporters in the post-match news conference.
“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,” he emphasised.
With the bat, the promising all-rounder scored only 17 on Saturday, but took the crucial wickets of Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mahmudullah.
