Fairtree and KNCB jointly establish Netherlands Academy Structure
Published at 20 April, 2026Asset manager Fairtree, which has substantially supported Dutch cricket for years, and the KNCB have signed an agreement providing for the establishment and support of the Fairtree Academy Structure with the objective to bridge the gap between Dutch club cricket and international cricket in both the men’s and women’s games.
Heino Kuhn, who has been appointed as Academy Lead Coach, explains the collaboration: “The Dutch Topklasse is of a good standard, but the quality difference compared to international top cricket is still significant. The Academy is intended for talented and ambitious players who want to make the leap to the national teams. This involves growth at all levels: technical, tactical, athletic, and mental as well as off the field aspects.”
Thirteen cricketers under the age of 23 (eight men and five women) have been identified for the Academy programme, which will consist of dedicated specific trainings, physical assessments and strength and conditioning programming as well as performance metric trackers in order to continue their growth. They will also be introduced to various off field elements addressing the holistic player development which is required to perform at international level.
With this addition, the Men’s ProSeries will expand this year to include a third team which speaks to the depth which has started to be created in Dutch Cricket. These matches will include the best players from the Topklasse compete against each other on Dutch soil throughout the summer.
The Women’s Super Series and Men’s “A” Team fixtures will also be bolstered by the support from Fairtree, enabling aspirant players to come through the pathway. This will also extend to overseas placements during the winter for selected players to continue to develop their games during the off season.
Players selected - women: Anshika Dixit, Manouk de Bruijn, Mishika Shrivastava, Noor van Rietschote, Mona Anbuselvam. Men: Cedric de Lange, Lucas del Bianco, Teun Kloppenburg, Teun Leijer, Damien Van Den Berg, Jens Blankenstijn, Aaditt Jain, Tom de Leede.
Long history in supporting cricket
Fairtree has a long history when it comes to supporting and elevating cricket. In 2018, the company became a sponsor of the Gary Kirsten Cricket Academy. In 2021, Fairtree supported a KNCB grassroots programme, and in 2022, Fairtree was the shirt sponsor for the Dutch during the men's T20 World Cup.
Kobus Nel, Group CEO of Fairtree: “We are proud to support Dutch cricket through the establishment of this Academy. The KNCB’s vision to grow and strengthen the game in the Netherlands aligns closely with our own commitment to long-term development and excellence. Cricket has a unique ability to bring people together while teaching valuable life lessons, from discipline and resilience to teamwork. We believe the Academy will play an important role in nurturing young talent and supporting players in reaching their full potential, both on and off the field.”
KNCB’s Ryan Cook adds: “As the High Performance system in the Netherlands continues to grow in parellel with the achievements of the national men’s and women’s teams, the best way to create sustainable success in years to come is to put in place a system which supports the next crop of players and raises the standard. We are very grateful to Fairtree for their on going support of our programmes past and present and look forward to the Academy being a great success.”
About Fairtree
Fairtree is a leading global investment manager that manages traditional and alternative investment portfolios across all global asset classes for local and offshore clients. Headquartered in South Africa, Fairtree manages ZAR 199bn (€ 10 billion or USD 12 billion, as at January 2026) in award-winning, diverse global portfolios. As a trusted investment partner, Fairtree continually strives for investment excellence and to deliver consistent and competitive returns while pursuing its mission of enriching the lives of all our stakeholders.
As a proud supporter of Dutch cricket and partner to the KNCB, Fairtree values the role sport plays in bringing people together, developing talent and inspiring communities. These principles closely align with Fairtree’s own mission and values. The company believes in building strong, enduring partnerships, whether with our clients or within the communities it supports. Through Fairtree’s involvement in cricket, the company is excited to contribute to the continued growth and success of the sport in the Netherlands. To find out more, visit: www.fairtree.com.
