De Leede embraces historic Dutch debut

Babette de Leede says leading the Netherlands into their first ICC Women’s T20 World Cup will be “an experience of a lifetime”, with the tournament’s English conditions offering a familiar backdrop for her young side. The captain expects strong support from travelling Dutch fans and believes the team’s underdog status could help them spring surprises. Their qualification journey began with the European Qualifier in 2025 and continued through the Emerging Nations Trophy, before a dominant run at the Global Qualifier in Nepal secured their historic berth.

De Leede, who comes from a renowned cricketing family and debuted for the national team as a teenager, highlighted how playing boys’ cricket shaped her development. She said missing out on the 2024 edition sharpened the squad’s resolve, leading to renewed commitment and improved standards. The Netherlands aim to win at least two matches and finish in the top eight. Their campaign opens on 14 June against Bangladesh.