Netherlands captain Scott Edwards has called it quits on his captaincy, bringing down the curtain on a four-year leadership stint. The news was broken by the Royal Dutch Cricket Association (KNCB) and was confirmed through a video shared on social media. The Dutch team is currently competing in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 against Oman and the UAE. As Edwards steps down, all-rounder Bas de Leede is set to captain the side for the remainder of the tournament.
Addressing his teammates, 29-year-old Edwards revealed that the decision had been made after discussions with head coach Ryan Cook and other members of the setup. "Apologies for springing this on you guys, but I've decided to step down as captain from here," Edwards said.
"I think
it's sort of something Cookie [Ryan Cook] and I have been speaking about, and I've sort of been speaking to a few different people about it, and this is sort of the time that feels right for me, I think. I feel like I've got so much more to offer as a player, and obviously that's my goal going forward with all you boys. I think this is such a special group. And yeah, I think the world's our oyster and I'm really looking forward to what's to come. "
Scott Edwards assumed the captaincy of the Dutch team in June 2022 and went on to lead the side in 56 ODIs and 50 T20Is. One of the watershed moments under the captaincy of Edwards was the back-to-back wins over South Africa and Bangladesh at the ODI World Cup 2023. Netherlands also stunned South Africa in Adelaide at the 2022 T20 World Cup, knocking the Proteas out of the tournament.
De Leede Pays Tribute To Edwards' Captaincy
De Leede paid tribute to the outgoing skipper, crediting him for instilling belief within the squad. "I think if I can speak on behalf of the players, you've led us into some really cool battles over the years. And I just want to thank you for believing in us.
"Even if some of us didn't believe in ourselves or in the team, the way you were able to communicate to us what the plan was and how it was going to be acquired every single game, day in, day out, was special and made me as a player believe in my own ability more than I ever did before. "
The Netherlands are currently second in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 standings, putting them on course for a place in the qualification tournament for the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will feature the top four sides.
