Developing cricket in the Netherlands together

In recent weeks there have been various developments about which we would like to inform you in different ways.  

First of all, on March 3, 2025, we will organize an information evening for clubs for which the chairpersons of the clubs have received an invitation. During this digital meeting, interim director Lucas Hendrikse and I would like to update you further on the intended changes in the field of the KNCB Office, financial management and governance.   

We have also recently made agreements with the DCA (Dutch Cricketers Association), the interest group of the players of our national teams. We also plan to expand the board with a marketing & communication board member and an events & operations board member.

Jacques van Zuydam is willing to take a seat on our board as treasurer. Jacques is South African by birth and has lived in the Netherlands for twelve years. He has gained extensive financial experience in his career and is now global head of Technology Finance at APM Terminals.  

At the request of ten clubs (Dosti, Gelre CC, Hercules, Rood en Wit, Salland CC, Sparta, Quick 1888, Qui Vive, VRA and VVV), we will organise an extraordinary GMM (BALV) about the competition format in the short term (no later than March 21). In this GMM we will also nominate Jacques as treasurer, so that he can quickly start working for the KNCB. The guests of this BALV will receive an invitation as soon as possible.

To our great regret, Reinout Scholte, KNCB board member High Performance, has announced that he will stop as a board member in the short term. We respect his decision, of course, but we deeply regret it. Reinout is a former international player with a lot of managerial experience - also within the cricket community - and joined the board of the KNCB in April 2022, in a pretty turbulent situation.  He has worked extremely hard over the past three years to further professionalize top cricket in the Netherlands. This was extra challenging in the last year because of the financial situation of the KNCB. We are very grateful to him for his enormous contribution to Dutch cricket.  

The reasons for his departure give rise to reflection on the way in which we treat each other within Cricket Netherlands. There will always be disagreements, but the way in which we are currently dealing with each other and with these disagreements does not lead to the best result for cricket in the Netherlands.

There is no doubt that we all want to help cricket in the Netherlands move forward. There may be differences of opinion about how we achieve that goal; Everyone has a task and a responsibility. We must have an eye and ear for each other's interests and arguments and work together constructively. On many points this goes well, on other points unfortunately less so. We will start the recruitment process for a new High Performance board member in the short term. 

A beautiful cricket summer is coming up with a wonderful international program for men and women. Both T20 World Cup qualifying tournaments will take place in the Netherlands. In addition, we welcome new clubs and teams to the league which we are particularly happy with. Let's continue to build on the development of cricket in the Netherlands together!  

Guido Landheer, chairman KNCB