Netherlands’ captain Peter Borren feels World Cup will boost future of cricket in country
Netherlands captain Peter Borren feels his team’s participation in the ICC World Cup 2011 will have lasting benefits for Holland cricket in a country where hockey and football are leading the perch of sports.
“With football and hockey the dominant sports back home, us coming here and doing well at a massive event on the world stage, we're hoping that can attract a few more Dutch people to cricket and help develop the sport,” said the Dutch captain whose team
is all set to kick off their World Cup campaign against England on Tuesday.
He said that their participation in the mega event has given the game a bit more exposure than it normally gets in Holland. The national television channel of Holland broadcasted a 45-minute program on cricket on Sunday, which according to Borren, does not
happen under normal circumstances.
The 27-year-old http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Canterbury-c775 all-rounder is well aware of the responsibility that lies on the shoulders of Holland’s World Cup squad.
Cricket has been played in Netherlands since the 19th century but still lacks the status other sports like football and hockey have. When asked about the slow progress of the game in Holland, Borren reckoned that they are developing gradually.
He conceded that a lot of work is yet to be done on the promotion of sport in the country adding that it was a challenge to attract young players from other sports already established in Holland.
Back in 1964, the Oranje brigade had stunned the mighty Aussies and in 2009, they thwarted http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 in the World Twenty20 Championship opener at Lord’s.
When asked about the prospects of Netherlands playing a Test match, Borren said that he does not see it happening anytime soon.
“I don't see it happening in the near future in Holland,” said the Dutch skipper. “There's a lot of steps to go before that is even thought about. At this stage, we lack the infrastructure and the playing numbers so it's not going to happen in the near future.”
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Netherlands-c753 have featured in four ICC World Cups and a Twenty20 World Cup so far. They can upset any team on their given day but their chances of making another World Cup appearance seem to be gloomy as the International Cricket Council is planning to slash
the number of teams to 10 in the ICC World Cup 2015.
The Oranje must be keen to prove the ICC decision wrong in what could be their last chance at the mega event.
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