ICC Cricket World Cup 2023: Bas de Leede aims to achieve what his father Tim couldn't for the Netherlands Cricket Team

Cricket World Cup 2023: Bas de Leede wasn't even born when his father Tim de Leede and his fellow teammates created history for the Netherlands during the 1996 Cricket World Cup held in the sub-continent.

The Netherlands along with Associate Nations Kenya and United Arab Emirates (UAE) made their World Cup debut in the marquee competition. In the showpiece, the Dutch team lost all of their five matches.

In the 2011 World Cup, held in the sub-continent again, the history was repeated as the Dutch side failed to taste a victory in that edition too, thus finishing last in the Group stage and bowing out of the competition.

Cricket World Cup 2023: Netherlands Are Back To The Grind

Twelve years later, the Netherlands cricket team is back in the World Cup grind for the 2023 edition, after missing the previous two tournaments which were held in Australia-New Zealand, and England respectively.

Bas de Leede, just like his father Tim - who played three WCs for his nation - back in 1996, is an integral part of the current Dutch side.

The 23-year-old batting all-rounder, who will turn 24 on the 15th of next month, believes his team will take the positives from the showpiece and looks to become a much-improved side. The cricketer, who plays for the English County side Durham, has tried to learn a lot from his father's experiences in the showpiece event.

Bas looks to surpass his father Tim

The right-handed batter, who played a big role in the Netherlands' good performance in the World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe earlier this year, will be looking to do well personally, as well as a team, and looks to register their maiden win in the competition till date.

"The one thing that he said was to enjoy it. So I think that's what we'll do off and on the field, taking notes, and being in the moment. Sometimes during the game (he told us) to sort of soak up what's happening. Obviously, it's a very special occasion for me and the other guys," replied Bas, when myKhel asked him if he and the team received any special advice from his father.

The Dutch team, despite cricket's limited appeal back home, has stirred up a certain level of excitement amongst Dutch cricket enthusiasts, which comprises a good mix of local Dutch and expatriates from India-Pakistan and South Africa, who've settled in the country.

The fact that the Netherlands will get to play nine games with the top ODI teams in the world in the single round-robin format in this showpiece is a big opportunity for this young side.

Rubbing shoulders with some of the legends of the game and some of the up-and-coming talents will do a world of good to them, and as Bas & his teammates have been advised by Tim (and perhaps many others), they should keep soaking everything positive happening around them on and off the cricket pitch.

By winning just one game, this young side would have created history and broken the jinx of returning winless from the quadrennial competition in the sub-continent. But this Dutch side, coached by Ryan Cook, won't be content with a solitary win or two.

The Netherlands, who have won just two WC games which were against associate nations Namibia in 2003 WC & Scotland in 2007 WC, began their WC campaign against Pakistan in Hyderabad on October 6.