In the top, Netherlands appear set to complete this ODI World Cup precisely how they had been anticipated to — on the backside of the factors desk. Although they beat West Indies and completed runners-up within the World Cup qualifiers in July in Zimbabwe, no person would have frankly anticipated extra from a workforce that needed to scour for sponsors and internet bowlers for his or her week-long camp in Alur close to Bengaluru earlier than the event. Certainly not from a workforce enjoying its first ODI World Cup in 12 years.
Netherlands’ Logan van Beek celebrates the wicket of England’s Joe Root throughout their match within the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.(ANI )
And but, the Dutch have had their moments. None larger than beating South Africa for the primary time in ODIs, as if to point out that their triumph within the T20 World Cup in Australia final 12 months wasn’t an anomaly. In Pune on Wednesday, they had been additionally going toe-to-toe with England for the primary 35 overs of the sport earlier than Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes cobbled collectively a 129-run stand to make sure the defending champions didn’t plummet additional. Other than these transient spikes, although, it’s been a journey of stark learnings and self-discovery for the Dutch gamers by their travels in India over the previous month — from trying to imbibe nuances such because the significance of rotating strike underneath strain to a normal understanding of what it takes to compete with the most effective groups on the highest degree.
What can the Dutch do with these classes although?
Because for the foreseeable future, these gamers will return to obscure environment, uncertain of when they are going to get to rub shoulders with the cream of worldwide cricket once more. The ODI Super League, which allowed Netherlands to play bilateral contests in opposition to South Africa, England, Pakistan and New Zealand within the 2020-23 cycle, has been scrapped. For the following World Cup in 2027, expanded to 14 groups, the highest ten primarily based on ICC rankings will earn automated qualification whereas the remaining battle it out by way of the qualifiers. Netherlands, at present ranked 14th, will in all probability should take that circuitous route once more. Which might imply extra contests in opposition to the likes of Ireland, Nepal, Oman and UAE slightly than the highest groups.
According to the ICC Future Tours Programme (FTP) for 2023-27, Pakistan will tour Netherlands for 3 T20Is in May subsequent 12 months. Then there’s the T20 World Cup in West Indies and USA, for which they’ve earned automated entry by advantage of ending within the prime eight in final 12 months’s occasion. But the street forward is unsure past that.
“Yeah, look, the reality of it is that there is less funding and there is less sort of opportunity and there is less exposure,” Netherlands’ Teja Nidamanuru, a middle-order batter of Indian origin who smashed a 76-ball 111 in that victory in opposition to West Indies, stated earlier within the event. “Look, there’s a difference between someone like Australia, India, England, South Africa or even New Zealand, they’re always playing each other. And the exposure and the sort of know-how (they have).”
After the loss to England on Wednesday, Nidamanuru elaborated: “These guys play against each other all the time. They play in IPL. They have lots of exposure in terms of what’s going on. In the Netherlands, we don’t have a first-class system. And then you’re thrust onto the ICC World Cup scene, or the qualifiers, or whatever. And then you’re facing quality bowlers who are bowling 135 plus or being able to turn the ball.”
It’s a problem that many Associate or weaker groups have been subjected to. Think Kenya, who surprised West Indies within the 1996 World Cup and conjured a dream run to the semi-finals seven years later. Just as hanging was their alarming decline, as a mix of misgovernance, poor outcomes and lack of publicity left them in a scenario the place they’re now arduous to hint. Bangladesh, a full member since 2000, have had nothing greater than the odd upset to flaunt in seven World Cups. There could also be a deeper malaise than simply scheduling, however the lack of contests in opposition to Australia, England and India certainly don’t assist. That their final three ODIs versus Australia have are available in ICC occasions – 2019 World Cup, 2017 Champions Trophy and 2015 World Cup – is only one instance.
An outlier on this regard appears to be Afghanistan. In simply their third ODI World Cup, the Afghans have defeated former champions Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka, and got here ever so near gorgeous the Australians a few days in the past. If they will get previous South Africa on Friday, it will likely be solely internet run price that might hold a semi-final entry past the realm of chance.
They, too, are crippled by the dearth of recreation time on the elite degree. If they’re able to nonetheless compete, even sparkle, it’s as a result of publicity that their prime gamers are gaining by enjoying in T20 leagues world wide. Whether it’s Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Rahmanullah Gurbaz or Naveen-ul-Haq, they’re all scorching property within the ever-growing T20 panorama. While Netherlands have beforehand benefitted from the nous and expertise of former all-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate — a well-known face in County cricket and numerous T20 leagues – producing gamers adequate to spark the curiosity of those franchises is simpler stated than completed.
Ultimately, it’s the ICC – the sport’s governing physique – that has to behave. And if it intends to retain the standing of the ODI World Cup as a marquee occasion and never simply the protect of a comfortable membership, that point is now.
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Source: www.hindustantimes.com
