Scott Edwards has stepped down as the Netherlands captain, bringing an end to his four-year leadership stint, with Bas de Leede taking charge for the remainder of the CWC League 2.

The development was confirmed through a video by KNCB (The Royal Dutch Cricket Association). All-rounder Bas de Leede will captain the side for the remaining ICC Men’s Cricket Cup League 2 fixtures against Oman and UAE.

The 29-year-old Scott Edwards said that the decision was made after discussions with head coach Ryan Cook and others involved in the setup.

“Apologies for sort of springing this one on you guys. I’m actually stepping down from the captaincy from here,” Edwards said.

“I think it’s sort of something Cookie (Ryan Cook), and I have been speaking about, and I’ve sort of been speaking to a few different people about it, and this is sort of the time that feels right for me, I think.”

“I feel like I’ve got so much more to offer as a player, and obviously that’s my goal going forward with all you boys. I think this is such a special group. And yeah, I think the world’s our oyster and I’m really looking forward to what’s to come.”

Scott Edwards took over the leadership duties after the first ODI during England’s tour of Netherland in June 2022.

He won 24 games out of 56 ODI matches, and his captaincy is highlighted with famous wins agianst South Africa and Bangladesh in Dharamsala and Kolkata at the 2023 ODI World Cup.

He has led the side to 50 wins in 86 T20I games, which includes the wins against Zimbabwe and South Africa in the T20 World Cup 2022.

Bas de Leede has thanked Scott Edwards for his valuable contributions to the team. “I think if I can speak on behalf of the players, you know, you’ve let us into some really cool battles over the years. And I just want to thank you for believing in us,” de Leede said.

“Even if some of us didn’t believe in ourselves or in the team, the way you were able to communicate to us what the plan was and how it was going to be acquired every single game, day in, day out, was special and made me as a player believe in my own ability more than I ever did before.”

“It doesn’t just set the team up for success, but it sets individuals up for success. And I think we should all be very thankful for that, for a guy to be that selfless to put others in the best space to perform. It’s pretty f*****g special. I’m so excited to see what’s more to come for you as a player. I think you’re a very special player and I can’t wait to lead you on the field.”

The Netherlands are currently second on the CWC League 2 Table, behind the USA. The top-four teams at the end of the tournament get into the World Cup qualifiers. The Netherlands’ final series of matches is at the end of the year against Oman and the UAE.