Netherlands Cricketer Sybrand Engelbrecht: From working in finance sector to living the Cricket World Cup Dream

ICC Cricket World Cup 2023: Netherlands cricketer Sybrand Engelbrecht made his ODI World Cup debut in the match against New Zealand at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on October 9.

The South Africa-born cricketer in an interaction with the Indian media after the game, reflected on his unique journey in the world of cricket, his academic achievements, and his resolute decision to step back into the realm of professional cricket.

The disappointment of his team's second defeat in the competition was palpable, but Engelbrecht's determination to steer Dutch cricket in the right direction shone through.

"Pretty disappointed about the result," he began, his eyes reflecting the pain of the loss. "I think we are moving in the right direction, but we need to learn a little bit faster as a team. But personally, it's a dream come true. I think any young kid who plays cricket wants to play international cricket. And to do that at a World Cup is really special. So, it's a moment that I'll look back on fondly.

But I think the important thing for me and for us as a team is to make sure that we learn and grow and try and be better and try and win some games. So it's special. But at the same time, we really want to come out here and compete and try and push and make the case known that Dutch cricket is going in the right direction."

Engelbrecht's journey to international cricket is nothing short of remarkable. After retiring from the sport in 2016, he embarked on a different path, pursuing a Master's degree in Business Administration through Stellenbosch Business School while working in the finance sector.

However, his love for cricket never truly faded. It wasn't until he and his family moved to the Netherlands in 2021 for business reasons that he rediscovered his passion for the game. "Yes," Engelbrecht nodded with a smile when asked about retiring from the game.

"I retired from cricket in 2016, December of 2016. And I started working for a business called Fair Tree in January of 2017. While I was playing, I did my degree in finance and my post-grad in project management. And then two years into my career, I did my Masters in Business Administration through Stellenbosch Business School.

"So, it was a couple of years that I didn't really do much or had much to do with cricket. And it was really when the family and I moved to the Netherlands that I picked up a bat again because it was kind of the easiest way for us to integrate into the community and make new friends."

He further added, "When I picked that up, I realized how much I missed it and fell in love with it all over again. So, it was good. I'm still working full time, still very fortunate to be at a fantastic business such as Fair Tree. So, still working full time, that's still my primary focus."

The transition from South Africa to the Netherlands was a pivotal moment in Engelbrecht's life. The move, driven by business opportunities, offered him a fresh start both personally and professionally.

"Yeah, so we moved to the Netherlands in January of 2021, still with the same business, Fair Tree," Engelbrecht explained. "We set up a real estate private equity business in Europe, based in the Netherlands. The business asked if I could come in to help and see what I could do on that side and how we could grow the business.

"My wife then stopped working because we had a very young little one, about six months old when we made the move. We're very pleased to be here. It's a fantastic place to live. The community that we're in is fantastic. We've made some really good friends, and the cricket guys are absolutely world-class. So, I'm very, very fortunate to be here."

Engelbrecht's cricket journey in the Netherlands has centered around his involvement with the Voorburg Cricket Club (VCC). Over the last three years, VCC has excelled, reaching three finals of the highest level of cricket in the Netherlands known as Top Class. It's been a journey of growth and integration for Engelbrecht, both within the club and the Dutch cricketing setup.

"I play for Voorburg Cricket Club VCC," he said proudly. "We've done really well over the last three years as a club. We were in three finals of the highest level of cricket in the Netherlands called Top Class. So, we've consistently done well as a club.

"I think we've integrated a strong base and a strong foundation within the club. In our club, we've got a lot of guys that are in the Dutch setup. So, it's always been fantastic to test my skills against those guys and try to help them learn and guide them where I can."

As for his international debut, Engelbrecht's path to representing the Netherlands was a unique one. It wasn't always his primary focus, but it became more apparent once he started the journey of determining his eligibility.

"I suppose it was always probably in the back of my mind, but it was never the primary focus," Engelbrecht admitted. "It only really became more apparent once we started the journey of trying to find out whether I am eligible or not. We started that just after the qualifiers because I did a little bit of research, and we spoke with certain individuals, and they thought I was close.

"We checked with the ICC, and they came through and said, 'Okay, you are eligible.' And it all happened quite quickly. The week after that, I made my debut for the Netherlands A team and just got integrated into this environment, integrated into the team, and got the blessing from the business to give this a proper crack and to try my best to get to the World Cup.

The former Protea cricketer who represented the nation during the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup in 2008, said: "Now that we are here, the entire team at Fair Tree has really been amazing because they've taken all the workload off, allowing me to focus on trying to hit a cricket ball."

Engelbrecht's experience contrasts the well-structured cricketing systems in South Africa, where he was part of the Protea structure, with the Dutch cricketing environment, which isn't that structured and fledgling. He acknowledged the differences but also praised the positive aspects of Dutch cricket.

"Yeah, look, it's different," Engelbrecht noted. "It's not as professional as the structures and systems are in South Africa; there's a lot less capital involved. But the environment that has been created by the management team, led primarily by Ryan Cook, has been nothing short of phenomenal. The culture and the values that they've instilled within the team are fantastic.

"I truly believe that with a little bit of capital and time, we can be a force to be reckoned with in years to come. So, it's not near where it is for some of the bigger nations, but we are working extremely hard with what we've got to try and make an impact."

Sybrand Engelbrecht's journey from the world of finance to the international cricket arena is a testament to his determination and passion for the sport. As the Netherlands cricket team strives for excellence on the global stage, Engelbrecht's unique perspective and commitment continue to play a vital role in the team's pursuit of success at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 and beyond.