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The ODI World Cup 2023 could’ve witness a historic moment if star all-rounder Logan van Beek, representing the Netherlands, had entered the field in Match 06 of the tournament against New Zealand at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
A unique record missed
Van Beek might’ve achieved a record of playing against his country of birth, New Zealand.
Born in Christchurch, New Zealand, Van Beek has a Dutch heritage through his paternal lineage. His grandparents migrated to New Zealand from the Netherlands in the mid-20th century, making him eligible to represent the Netherlands in international cricket.
Interestingly, Van Beek’s maternal grandfather, Sammy Guillen, achieved the rare distinction of representing both the West Indies and New Zealand in Test cricket during his career.
Other cricketers with similar records
While Van Beek’s feat remains uncompleted, there have been some other cricketers who have represented a country different from their birthplace.
Kevin Pietersen
The attacking batter, Kevin Pietersen, was born in South Africa but represented England from 2004 to 2014. Pietersen played 10 Tests, 17 ODIs, and 6 T20Is against his birth nation, accumulating 817 runs, 646 runs, and 207 runs, respectively.
Also WATCH: CWC 2023 – Indian dressing room celebrates as Virat Kohli receives ‘gold medal’ for outstanding fielding against Australia
Nasser Hussain
Former England captain Nasser Hussain drew his roots back to Madras (now Chennai), India. His family relocated to England when he was seven years old. Nasser, who represented England from 1989 to 2004, played 10 Tests and 13 ODIs against India, amassing 824 runs and 410 runs, respectively.
Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi
Born into the royal family of Pataudi, Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi is remembered not only as the father of the illustrious Indian captain Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi but also as a rare individual who played Test cricket for both England and India. He appeared in a total of 6 Tests, 3 for England and as many for India.
Kepler Wessels
Kepler Wessels, like Iftikhar, played for two countries. He represented Australia in 24 Tests and 54 ODIs, and South Africa in 16 Tests and 55 ODIs. Although he played against Australia for South Africa, he never faced the country of his birth as he was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa.
