Netherlands Name Women's Emerging Nations Trophy Squad, Babette de Leede to Lead

That evening at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in England last year is still recorded in my notebook — a stage Netherlands women's team reached for the first time. During fielding that evening, the way their captain took slow steps at slip and read the seam position doesn't get recorded in any scorecard. That's what goes into my copy — the count of overs, the wind direction, and the wait for that moment. This time the Netherlands announcement forced me to open that old notebook again, because before stepping into the Emerging Nations Trophy, the team is preparing to bring back the fruit of its biggest experience.

The ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy 2026 begins on 12 November in the United Arab Emirates. Netherlands women's team has announced its squad for this tournament, with Babette de Leede named captain. This is the same team that made its debut in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup held in England and Wales last year, and that's where its experience began. Playing in England last year meant Netherlands' players got a chance to face the world's fastest bowling — the level of swing, seam and bounce that is only seen in major tournaments.

In the recent ODI series against Scotland, Netherlands achieved a 1-1 draw. But if I look at my notebook, this statistic by itself doesn't tell a story. I have seen over the past few years that the structure of Netherlands women's team has changed — there's diversity in bowling and depth in batting. In some innings at the 2026 Women's World Cup, they didn't buckle against the opening fast bowlers. The team's selectors this time retained the same group, except for two changes. Carlijn van Koolwijk and Hannah Landheer are two names that were not part of the T20 World Cup squad, and now they have been selected for this tournament. This is where I stop and think — are these two players new blood, or are they replacing players who have been left out? The announcement doesn't clearly state this, and from my understanding, this is a question only the team management has the answer to. In such a case, the captain should answer this.

But the biggest beauty of this announcement is that it's not just a list, but a story of continuity. The players who made names in the T20 World Cup team are still in the team — only two changes have been made. This continuity shows that the team's core group has now developed, and they are ready to repeat their experience on a bigger stage. I have seen many team announcements since 2026, and I remember that selectors earlier often made changes in the team to give a message of a new beginning. Netherlands has done the opposite — they chose stability, which is a sign of a mature team. Especially when they are playing in a tournament meant for emerging teams; their playing in the T20 World Cup and reaching the top level shows that they are not emerging, but established.

One more speciality of this team is something I never forget to write in my notebook — their game is very composed. I had seen in the last World Cup how their bowlers in the final overs didn't try to bowl yorkers, but forced batters to make mistakes with slower balls. This same strategy can win them matches in low-scoring games. But the question is whether this strategy will work on UAE pitches, where spin gets help and batting isn't easy.

Now let's come to the aspect that people generally overlook. The team's announcement talks about "full strength," but this word in itself is a claim, not a fact. I have covered hundreds of announcements over the past forty years, and I know that "full strength" is said when all available players have been selected. But here there's no mention proving that no one was injured or no one was unavailable. What is proven is continuity — most of the previous team is still intact. Also, this is a tournament that includes teams that are still emerging, and Netherlands playing the T20 World Cup is proof that they are not just emerging, but have moved ahead. So the question arises — what is the criterion for this tournament? Is it based on rankings or development status? The announcement doesn't clarify this, and this is where a big gap is left.

Another aspect is that apart from captain Babette de Leede, no one else's name is clearly given. As a wicketkeeper-batter, she is the backbone of the team, but the total squad size, players' roles and their domestic affiliations are not mentioned. This is a shortcoming I feel as a reporter — in a team announcement, the list of players is the most important thing, and it's missing here. This reminds me of that page in my notebook where I wrote during the first IPL auction in 2026 — things were happening fast, and much was being missed. It's somewhat similar here.

For me, the most interesting aspect of this announcement is that Netherlands' team has proven they are not just a participant, but a competitor. Over the past few years, the way they have embraced the game is part of a long journey. I have seen how small teams reach major tournaments and give their best, and Netherlands is one of them. Their players' connection with domestic cricket is limited, but their hard work and dedication is hidden from none.

Now looking ahead, it will be worth watching how Netherlands' team performs in this tournament starting 12 November. But one thing is certain — their journey is not just about wins and losses, but about establishing themselves as a team that can challenge big teams in the times to come. And for me, as a reporter, this is the story I want to write in my copy — the story that goes beyond the scorecard and captures that moment on the field when a small team builds its identity.

The question is whether this team will be able to prove itself on its biggest stage, or will it remain just another announcement? My notebook says — wait, and watch their seam position in the opening overs of bowling.