For the first time in history, the Netherlands women’s cricket team has secured a place in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, a milestone achievement for a side from a nation where cricket is still evolving and professional contracts are rare. In an exclusive conversation with Vishal Yadav for Female Cricket, captain Babette de Leede reflected on what this watershed moment means for her, her team, and the future of Dutch women’s cricket.
Unlike the dramatic finish many might imagine, the realization of qualification came almost quietly. “Our game rained out yesterday. So, the umpires told me, ‘We’re not coming back on, you’re winning on Duckworth Lewis.’ So, in the changing rooms where we were nice and dry, that’s when we realized we qualified for the World Cup,” de Leede said. The moment, somewhat surreal, still filled her with emotion. “I think pride. I think we’ve worked really, really hard for this. I still can’t really believe it, but I’m super proud of the girls and all the effort we’ve put in. I think it’s very also towards Netherlands cricket, it’s very important for us and hopefully we can get a lot more girls to play cricket now.”
The skipper captured the significance of the moment after the Netherlands sealed their maiden spot at the Women’s T20 World Cup, describing it as a deeply personal achievement. With her uncle Tim part of the coaching staff and her father and brother in attendance, the occasion felt even more special. “So, it’s very special to have them here and to reach this moment together. And the whole family is very, very proud,” the Netherlands captain said, underlining what she called a “big, big moment” for both her family and the team.
De Leede, a right-handed wicket-keeper batter has become a cornerstone of Dutch women’s cricket. In her international career to date, she has played across formats, amassing 1,547 runs in T20 Internationals (T20I), including multiple half-centuries, and she has also contributed behind the stumps with dozens of dismissals. Her experience and leadership qualities were crucial in steering the team through key qualifiers.
Coming into the tournament, the Netherlands were not considered favourites. But they battered higher-ranked teams like Scotland and Thailand, flipping belief into certainty.
“Two years ago, we made the promise that our goal is to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in England. And since then, we’ve worked really hard and everyone did buy into that dream,” she said. Their dominant run into the final stages of the qualifiers reflected that commitment.
What makes the achievement even more remarkable is the context: the Netherlands side has no full-time contracts or professional players — they play purely for pride, passion, and love of the game.
“Because we don’t have any contracts and we don’t earn money, I think we all play because we love cricket so much and we love to play with each other and for our country,” de Leede said.
“It’s a very unique team and team spirit because we’re all like we’re so passionate about the game and yeah, it’s not our job. We just play basically for fun. So, it’s very special and it’s very special to lead this group of girls.”
Babette de Leede said it has been a challenge juggling her commitments, explaining that she is “lucky now to have a full-time contract in South Africa” which allows her to play cricket full-time. She recalled a period when she had to study full-time, play cricket full-time, and try to maintain some social life all at once. Acknowledging the sacrifices involved, she said, “we’ve all made a lot of sacrifices,” and added that the journey has ultimately “proven worth it.”
That ethos has built an unusual team spirit, one that thrives on shared sacrifice rather than financial incentive. Training sessions in sub-zero conditions, dragging teammates of varying fitness levels to the gym, and balancing cricket with studies and work all became part of their collective journey. “We dragged each other to the gym and we went running … and we had to train indoors in zero degrees, and it was crazy,” she laughed. That shared grind, she believes, forged the mental toughness that carried them through.
De Leede’s own journey began at just 14, and early years were marked by heavy defeats — including last-place finishes at the 2015 and 2018 global qualifiers. At one stage, players even paid their own way to represent the Netherlands. But a turning point came when she was selected for an ICC development squad in England, giving her a glimpse of what might be possible.
Now, the World Cup offers more than participation — it offers competition. “When we go to the World Cup we want to compete and we want to win games. I don’t think we’re done here,” she said. Facing powerhouses such as India, England, Australia, and South Africa is daunting, but the first feeling is still pride. “It’s unbelievable that we made it this far.”
And for young girls in the Netherlands, this qualification represents inspiration. “I hope it’s inspiring them. Cricket in the Netherlands, especially for girls, has hit a bit, it’s not going very well, especially for younger girls. So, I really hope that we have shown them we’re working towards something great and hoping that they want to be part of it and also train hard like we did. So, I really hope we inspired them and the next generation.” she said.
When asked what message she’d send to world cricket ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, de Leede didn’t hesitate: “We’re coming for you!”
History may have already been made, but for Babette de Leede and her Netherlands team, this is only the beginning.
Loves all things female cricket