De Leede is a noted surname in Dutch cricket. Tim, the father, played three World Cups for the Netherlands — in 1996, 2003 and 2007 — and was part of the only two match victories at the quadrennial extravaganza. Twenty-seven years after Tim first journeyed to India, son Bas is here to add to both his family’s and country’s cricketing history.
“Just being here and feeling the energy is pretty cool,” Bas told The Hindu during the Netherlands’ preparatory camp here. “When I speak to my dad, he loves looking back. Obviously, the Dutch don’t have a great record in the tournament. We’re hoping to change that.”
Going by his team’s performances in the last 12 months, there is room for optimism. At the 2022 T20 World Cup, the Netherlands beat South Africa in stunning fashion, finished above Test nations in Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, and earned a direct slot for the 2024 T20 World Cup. In the World Cup Qualifier earlier in 2023, Netherlands defeated both West Indies and Scotland to punch its ticket.
