Babette de Leede to captain Netherlands in maiden Women's T20 WC debut, June 2026
Synopsis
The Netherlands enters its maiden ICC Women's T20 World Cup with captain Babette de Leede at the helm, buoyed by a perfect qualifying campaign and the tournament's location close to home. Drawn in a bruising Group A alongside India, Australia, Pakistan, South Africa, and Bangladesh, the Dutch will need a near-perfect start — beginning against Bangladesh on 14 June — to navigate toward the semi-finals.
Key Takeaways
Netherlands Cricket Board announced a 15-member squad on 6 May for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 .
Babette de Leede will captain the team in its first-ever World Cup appearance.
The tournament begins 12 June in England and Wales with 12 teams competing for the first time.
Netherlands qualified after posting a 3-0 record in the Super Six stage of the Global Qualifiers in Nepal .
Group A opponents include India , Australia , Pakistan , South Africa , and Bangladesh ; opening fixture against Bangladesh on 14 June at Edgbaston .
The Netherlands Cricket Board on 6 May unveiled a 15-member squad for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026, marking the Dutch team's inaugural appearance in the tournament. The competition will commence on 12 June in England and Wales, featuring 12 teams for the first time in the event's history.
Leadership and ambition
Babette de Leede will lead the Netherlands in their maiden T20 World Cup campaign. Speaking after the squad announcement, de Leede expressed optimism about competing on the global stage. "We are super excited for our first-ever appearance in the ICC T20 World Cup. It will be a great opportunity to compete with the best teams in the world, and to show the talent that we have in the Netherlands on the big stage," she said in a statement released by the Netherlands Cricket Board.
De Leede also highlighted the advantage of the tournament's proximity to home. "Because the T20 World Cup is played close to our home, in England, we expect a big orange crowd and a lot of support. It will be an experience of a lifetime, not just for us as a team, but also for our families, friends, and everyone who has Dutch women's cricket at heart," she added.
Path to qualification
The Netherlands secured their historic World Cup berth after posting a perfect 3-0 record during the Super Six stage of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Global Qualifiers held in Nepal last year. This maiden qualification underscores the growth trajectory of women's cricket in the Netherlands over the past two years.
Group stage challenge
The Dutch squad faces a formidable Group A lineup, where they will compete against Australia, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and South Africa for the top two spots and a semi-final berth. The group stage fixtures are stacked with high-profile encounters.
The Netherlands will open their campaign against Bangladesh at Edgbaston on Sunday, 14 June. They will then face India at Headingley on 17 June and defending champions Australia at the Utilita Bowl on 20 June. The group stage concludes with matches against South Africa at the County Ground in Bristol on 25 June and Pakistan on 27 June.
Preparation and squad composition
Prior to the World Cup, the Netherlands will compete in a T20I TriSeries in Scotland against Bangladesh and the host nation, providing match practice ahead of the tournament. The squad includes established players such as Caroline de Lange, Frédérique Overdijk, Hannah Landheer, Heather Siegers, Iris Zwilling, Isabel van der Woning, Lara Leemhuis, Myrthe van den Raad, Phebe Molkenboer, Robine Rijke, Rosalie Lawrence, Sanya Khurana, Silver Siegers, and Sterre Kalis.
What's next
The Netherlands' debut World Cup campaign will serve as a watershed moment for women's cricket development in the country. Success in Group A would mark a significant milestone, though the quality of opposition suggests the team will need to peak at the right moments to advance from one of the tournament's toughest groups.
Point of View
But Group A is unforgiving. Paired with India, Australia, Pakistan, and South Africa, the Dutch will need more than home crowd advantage — they need clinical cricket and near-flawless execution in their opening matches. A loss to Bangladesh would effectively end their semi-final hopes before the big-name fixtures arrive. This is a learning tournament with knockout consequences.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 and where will it be held?
The ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 will commence on 12 June in England and Wales. It will be the first edition to feature 12 teams competing across multiple venues in the host countries.
Who is captaining the Netherlands team?
Babette de Leede has been named captain of the Netherlands squad for their maiden T20 World Cup appearance. She expressed excitement about competing against the world's best teams and playing close to home.
How did the Netherlands qualify for the Women's T20 World Cup?
The Netherlands qualified after posting a perfect 3-0 record during the Super Six stage of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Global Qualifiers held in Nepal last year, securing their historic maiden qualification.
Which teams are in the Netherlands' group and when do they play?
The Netherlands are in Group A with India, Australia, Pakistan, South Africa, and Bangladesh. They open against Bangladesh on 14 June at Edgbaston, followed by matches against India (17 June), Australia (20 June), South Africa (25 June), and Pakistan (27 June).
Will the Netherlands play any warm-up matches before the World Cup?
Yes, the Netherlands will compete in a T20I TriSeries in Scotland against Bangladesh and the host nation prior to the World Cup, providing match practice and preparation for the tournament.
