Amsterdam: Former South Africa ODI captain Johan Botha has been appointed as a consultant to the Netherlands men’s cricket team for their ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 (CWCL2) matches against Namibia and Nepal later this month.
The matches will be played in Kampong, Utrecht, starting July 21. The 44-year-old Botha has played 78 ODIs and 40 T20Is for South Africa, including captaining them in ten 50-over matches.
He joins the Dutch setup shortly after resigning from his dual roles as head coach of Australia’s domestic team Queensland Bulls and Big Bash League (BBL) franchise Brisbane Heat, with one year remaining on his contract.
“I’m really looking forward to joining the Netherlands squad at this crucial time in the World Cup League 2 matches against Namibia and Nepal,” Botha said in a statement on Wednesday. Having tracked their progress over the past few years, it will be great to work with the players, coaches, and staff. Welcoming the appointment, KNCB (Dutch Cricket Board) High Performance Board member Sybrand Engelbrecht praised Botha’s global coaching credentials. He said, “We are delighted to have Johan join the team. He is a very experienced coach, having worked in the PSL, CPL, MLC, Big Bash, and Queensland Cricket.”
Botha coached the Brisbane Heat and Queensland Bulls over the past two seasons after replacing Wade Seccombe in 2024. Under his tutelage, Queensland reached the Sheffield Shield final in their first season, while the Heat missed the BBL final in both terms.
The Netherlands’ squad for the CWCL2 matches will be announced shortly after July 9. They will play their first match against Nepal on July 23, followed by a match against Namibia on July 25. The Netherlands will also play reverse matches against Nepal and Namibia on July 29 and 31.
