The Netherlands Cricket Team, affectionately known as the Orange Army, heads into the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka as an associate nation with a growing pedigree in the shortest format. Led by wicketkeeper-batter Scott Edwards, they aim to build on their reputation for producing upsets against full-member sides.
- Captain: Scott Edwards
- Head Coach: Ryan Cook
- T20 World Cup Debut Year: 2009
- Best Finish in T20 World Cup: Super 12 (top 8 overall) in 2022
Netherlands Team Bio
The Netherlands national cricket team has steadily risen in associate cricket, blending homegrown talent with experienced overseas-origin players to compete credibly on the global stage. In T20Is, they have earned recognition for giant-killing performances, notably defeating England in 2009 and South Africa in 2022 to reach the Super 12 stage, their best T20 World Cup result to date. This feat secured automatic qualification for subsequent editions. The side features a mix of aggressive batters like Max O’Dowd and Michael Levitt, versatile all-rounders such as Bas de Leede, Colin Ackermann, Roelof van der Merwe, and Logan van Beek, and a potent pace attack led by Fred Klaassen, Timm van der Gugten, and Paul van Meekeren.
Under captain Scott Edwards and head coach Ryan Cook, the team emphasises depth, adaptability to subcontinental conditions, and recent exposure to opponents in their group. Having qualified via strong regional performances and boasting prior World Cup experience, the Dutch arrive confident in their preparations, aiming to advance from a challenging Group A featuring powerhouses India and Pakistan alongside Namibia and the USA. Their blend of youth and experience positions them as potential dark horses capable of springing surprises in the February-March 2026 tournament.
Netherlands squad for T20 World Cup 2026
Scott Edwards (c), Colin Ackermann, Noah Croes, Bas de Leede, Aryan Dutt, Fred Klaassen, Kyle Klein, Michael Levitt, Zach Lion-Cachet, Max O’Dowd, Logan van Beek, Timm van der Gugten, Roelof van der Merwe, Paul van Meekeren, Saqib Zulfiqar
Netherlands schedule for T20 World Cup 2026
| Date | Team 1 | Team 2 | Venue | Stage | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07/02/2026 | Pakistan | Netherlands | SSC, Colombo | Group A | 11:00 |
| 10/02/2026 | Netherlands | Namibia | Delhi | Group A | 11:00 |
| 13/02/2026 | USA | Netherlands | Chennai | Group A | 19:00 |
| 18/02/2026 | India | Netherlands | Ahmedabad | Group A | 19:00 |
