Paul van Meekeren makes waves at the Cricket World Cup: “This leaves me wanting more”

“I used to see images of a World Cup on television, but now I’m in the middle of it,” Van Meekeren says from his hotel room in Delhi about the cricket craze in India. “Last week I wanted to go to the hairdresser with a teammate. We were taken there under police escort. Five police officers then went in to keep an eye on everything. Everything is arranged for you here. Everything revolves around the World Cup.”

Tom Thumb of the World Cup

The match won against South Africa was widely reported in the international sports press. From New Zealand to Jamaica, the historic achievement of the Netherlands was talked about and written about. “It’s as if Luxembourg beats the Netherlands at football, and we are of course Luxembourg. It could well be that the Netherlands will not win even one of the future twenty matches against South Africa. They are that good,” said van Meekeren about the unique achievement of the Netherlands.

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Van Meekeren will wear the shirt of the Dutch team for the 76th time today against Australia in an official match. And that while his cricket career started with the Haarlem Red and White. “My father has his roots in Haarlem and always played for Red and White. I was born in Amsterdam and have always lived there with my parents, but I had to and would play for dad’s club. So I am also just a Red and White. in heart and soul.”

His first steps on a cricket field were in Haarlem, but Van Meekeren has now also had clubs in Canada, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and he even became champion in the Caribbean with a team from the archipelago of Saint Kitts and Nevis. The thrower, known in cricket as a ‘bowler’, is also one of the few Dutch people who has managed to secure a contract in England. “I have been living in England for almost eight years now and have played for several clubs such as Somerset, Glamorgan and Glouchtershire. Together with fellow international Bas de Leede, I have a professional contract in England. I think there are only seven or eight Dutch people who can help us in this. have gone before.”

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Due to his already impressive cricket career, Van Meekeren no longer gets discouraged when it comes to playing big matches or personal duels against the best batsmen in the world. “I was very nervous on my debut in 2013, but not anymore. I have already played against England, Pakistan and India. I am actually looking forward to the match against Australia, because I have not played against that country before. .”

“We still have a real chance of winning against Bangladesh and Afghanistan,” says Van Meekeren about the remaining matches of this tournament. “Against an India in top form, in a full stadium, that will of course be very tough. But the victory against South Africa leaves you wanting more. In advance you would say that winning one or two games at this World Cup would have been a success. But now we want I actually win three.”

No fear

Even when he faces Steve Smith or David Warner today, two of the best hitters in the world, Van Meekeren does not flinch. “Smith doesn’t use his feet well, so just throw the ball full and deep into his posts. And David Warner, if you get that out, Australia loses very often. So it would be nice if we get him out quickly, but of course Everything will have to go well for Australia to win.”

The Netherlands will play against Australia today at 10.30 am. Later in this World Cup it will play against Bangladesh, Afghanistan and England. The final event for the Dutch team is the match in a sold-out stadium against home country and superpower India on Sunday, November 12.