The Dutch squad to take on Kenya in two ODIs and an Intercontinental Cup match in Nairobi at the end of February will have two changes from that which takes part in the World Twenty20 qualifying tournament in Dubai and Abu Dhabi the week before.

Batsman Daan van Bunge and off-spinner Muhammad Kashif, who will play in the UAE and in the short visit to India where the Dutch will be preparing for the Twenty20 tournament, are flying home for personal reasons before the Kenya leg of the tour.

That means there’s a call-up for Nick Statham, who will replace Van Bunge in the squad. No replacement has been named for Kashif, so the party in Kenya will comprise thirteen players, with just the one specialist spinner in left-armer Pieter Seelaar.

Announcing the changes, national coach Peter Drinnen said that he was delighted to have Statham joining the party as Van Bunge’s replacement.

‘Given the timing of these fixtures we are able to field one of our strongest sides possible,’ he said, ‘which is a massive plus, although Kenya at home will present a significant challenge.

‘We know we have to maximise every opportunity now in the Intercontinental Cup competition, and maximum points are needed to give us further opportunities later in the year.’

The Netherlands are currently fifth in the seven-team competition, having had the better of a drawn match against Canada and then suffering defeat at the hands of Afghanistan after taking a first-innings lead. They are now 28 points behind the Afghans after the latter’s victory over Ireland, and at least 20 points behind Scotland, who have already taken a first-innings lead over Kenya in Nairobi.