| | ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier, South Africa, 1-19 April 2009 |
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 Netherlands Squad
The Netherlands is still one of the most powerful Associates sides, although they have made less progress in the past two years than one might have hoped or expected. Much depends on which Dutch side turns up: they have had serious problems with availability, and the impression remains that they are over-reliant on South African-born Essex allrounder Ryan ten Doeschate. It will be a huge relief to coach Peter Drinnen to have a stable squad together for an extended period.
They went on to win ODIs at home against Bermuda and Kenya, but their international programme has been thin, and they have played only one match against a Test country since the last World Cup. The batting line-up is strong, with a top six from to choose from Darron Reekers, Tom de Grooth, Alexei Kervezee, Bas Zuiderent, Ten Doeschate, Daan van Bunge, Eric Szwarczynski and Peter Borren. The questions centre mainly on the attack, and the withdrawal of Australian fast bowler Dirk Nannes, who would have been a great acquisition, means that the Dutch will again rely on Edgar Schiferli (consistently their best seamer), Mudassar Bukhari and Ten Doeschate, with support from Borren's medium pace and the spinners Pieter Seelaar and Mohammed Kashif. Seelaar was one of the most improved players last season, bowling well in all forms of the game, and he will undoubtedly be one to watch as the tournament develops. Bukhari, too, has developed greater consistency with the ball after making a strong initial impression when he broke into the side in 2007, and he is likely to form an effective opening partnership with Schiferli. The Dutch have what looks like their toughest test of the group phase first up, meeting top seeds Kenya. But they beat the Kenyans on their last meeting, in a rain-shortened game in Rotterdam, and they will be keen to repeat that win and get their tournament away to a successful start.
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They had a disastrous European Championship in 2008, losing to Italy on the opening day and going down heavily to Ireland and Scotland, although in between they demolished Norway. But more significantly, they dismissed these disappointments in Belfast a few days later, beating Kenya, Canada and Scotland to win a place in this year's World Twenty20 tournament in England.