Netherlands hope to keep ‘intensity, dedication and spirit’ intact in race for Champions Trophy spot

The Royal Netherlands Cricket Association (KNCB) learned via media on Sunday that its performances at the 2023 ODI World Cup could lead to qualification for the 2025 Champions Trophy, and believe that a top-eight finish in India would ensure some long-term stability. by attracting new sponsors.

Shakib Al Hasan, the Bangladesh captain, caught some World Cup teams – including England – off guard when he reiterated his side’s ambition to finish in the top eight following their defeat to the Netherlands. Down in Calcutta on Saturday evening as part of reaching the Champions Trophy.

The ICC confirmed to ESPNcricinfo on Sunday that a change to the qualification process – which was previously determined by rankings – had been ratified at a board meeting in November 2021. The change had not been publicly announced at the time.

The KNCB is not directly represented at ICC board meetings – there are three associate member directors as well as the presidents of full member countries. KNCB high performance manager Roland Lefebvre confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that the Dutch World Cup squad only became aware of the qualification process after learning about it online.

Pakistan will automatically qualify as hosts, alongside the seven highest-ranked teams in the ongoing World Cup. With three group matches remaining for all ten teams, the Netherlands sit eighth in the World Cup points table and, as things stand, would put Bangladesh and England into qualification for the Champions Trophy.

Their remaining matches are against Afghanistan, England and India and although two wins would almost guarantee qualification for the Champions Trophy, just one win could be enough. The Netherlands’ match against England in Pune on November 8 appears to be a potential qualification factor.

“We weren’t aware of it,” Lefebvre told ESPNcricinfo. “I just read the articles, and the ICC said it was in 2021 when the decision was made. It would have been nice if they reminded the world what the situation was and the importance of this tournament. But for we, we “I’m still in the running for the top eight.”

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Meanwhile, Steve Harmison says it is “strange” that this was not made public before the World Cup.

Lefebvre confirmed details of the process with ICC officials following communication from the team on Sunday. “I relayed it to the team, who are now aware,” he said. “We will play with the same intensity, spirit, dedication and desire as in the previous six matches – but of course the importance is huge.”

Lefebvre called for greater representation of senior associates at ICC board level to avoid similar situations occurring in the future. “I don’t like the word ‘associate’ because it means less,” he said. “But I think we should have continued representation from members Nos. 13 to 20.”

As of November 2021, the three associate member directors were from Singapore (Imran Khwaja), Rwanda (Mahinda Vallipuram) and Bermuda (Neil Speight), none of whom had a men’s ODI ranking and were all ranked outside the top 30 men’s T20Is. Last year, Pankaj Khimji (Oman) replaced Vallipuram on the board.

There were three Associate Member representatives on the Steering Committee, which also ratified the changes to the qualification process in 2021: Rashpal Bajwa (Canada), Mubashshir Usmani (UAE) and Sumod Damodar (Botswana). Damodar has since been replaced by Dane Umair Butt.

ESPNcricinfo understands that the change was made because ICC members felt that the World Cup points table would be a more accurate representation of the world’s top eight teams than the rankings, rotation and second-string teams being now a common feature of bilateral series.

Exactly three months passed between the Netherlands’ qualification for this World Cup and their opening match against Pakistan, leaving only a short window for the KNCB to secure sponsorship of the tournament. If they qualify for the Champions Trophy, they would have a year and a half to prepare.

“Qualifying for this World Cup was immense,” Lefebvre said. “We had to find a main sponsor in about six weeks and it’s difficult. People think we can just sort it out, but the general climate has changed. We would have a year and a half to sort it out for the Trophy of Champions; we would have something else to do.”

Teams receive a participation fee – around $500,000 – for the Champions Trophy, although there will still be funding challenges for the KNCB. “The ICC is not going to turn around and say, ‘Oh my God, Netherlands, you’re doing so well, we’re going to give you additional funding,'” Lefebvre said.

“Our players and coaching staff want to improve, play more cricket and become full-fledged professionals, but with the limited levels of funding we receive it is incredibly difficult. The ICC always talks about rules fair game… what are the fair rules of the game? There is nothing equal or united.

The Netherlands have only participated in the Champions Trophy once before, losing both of their group matches in the 2002 edition. If they qualify, they will become the first associate member to compete in a Champions Trophy. Champions since Kenya and the United States reached the 2004 edition.

“There is a lot at stake,” Lefebvre said, “but it will not affect our game. We played with passion and played the way the game was designed, without being driven by a cricket franchise or huge contracts. The world recognized that and we were given a lot of credit for that and hopefully we’ll have at least one more win to make the top eight.