The KNCB is organising, in association with CricketEurope, an inaugural Women’s Indoor Championship, which will take place in the Margriethal in Schiedam on Sunday, 11 April.

The event will be played on a regional basis, with two teams selected from each of three regions: Maasland, Haaglanden and Northern Provinces. The morning matches, played on a six-a-side basis with each team bowling ten overs, will be round-robin games involving two pools of three teams, with semi-finals, play-offs and a final taking place in the afternoon.

The first games will start at 9:30, with the final scheduled to commence at 17:00.

It is hoped that all the leading women players in The Netherlands will take part, giving them a chance to get some early-season competitive practice before an important season which will see them playing in Division 4 of the English county championship, a World Cup qualifying tournament in Scotland, and a global ranking competition in Dubai.

KNCB national women’s coach Ed de Moura Correia welcomed the introduction of this event. ‘I am sure that players will enjoy this competition,’ he said, ‘and that each participating player will get something out of this new initiative.

‘Indoor cricket is a quick game which requires fast decision making in all departments of the game. As this may be new to many of the girls they will have to overcome some. How and how quickly players adapt will determine who will be successful.

‘The national squad and players representing Holland U21 and U17 should all be participating. So there should be some good cricket to be enjoyed for the spectators.’

National XI captain Helmien Rambaldo is also delighted with this opportunity and agrees fully with Ed de Moura’s statement: ‘This indoor tournament is a great opportunity for the players to put the work of the indoor practices we had so far, into challenging game situations.’

Rod Lyall, Netherlands Editor of CricketEurope, said that he was very pleased to be able to offer support for the initiative.

‘CricketEurope is strongly committed to the development of women’s cricket,’ he said, ‘along with all other areas of Associates and Affiliates cricket.

‘We shall be giving extensive coverage of this event as well as making a financial contribution, and I hope that it proves to be the beginning of a long and successful story.’

Finally, KNCB CEO Richard Cox commented: ‘We are extremely grateful to Rod and his colleagues at CricketEurope for not only their financial and administrative support to this event but also their unstinting coverage of Netherlands Cricket. In this time of economic instability it is great to be working with a supportive media partner and in particular one that is keen to cover the women’s game.’