Sybrand Engelbrecht, a 35-year-old South Africa-born cricketer, announced his retirement from international cricket after playing 12 ODIs and 12 T20Is for the Netherlands. His last international appearance was during the T20 World Cup 2024 where the Netherlands were defeated by Sri Lanka.
Engelbrecht’s athleticism on the field has always been a key feature of his play, dating back to his Under-19 World Cup days in 2008 when he took a stunning catch playing for South Africa against Papua New Guinea. He made a spectacular boundary save that went viral on social media in his final match, which was a standout performance in his career.
After retiring from all forms of cricket in 2016 to focus on his career in financial and project management, Engelbrecht made a comeback in 2021 playing recreational cricket in the Netherlands. His talent was quickly recognized, leading to his selection in the national squad for the 2023 ODI World Cup in India.
During his international career, Engelbrecht played in eight ODIs and four T20Is at World Cup events, demonstrating his ability to perform on the biggest stage. He finishes his career with 385 ODI runs at an average of 35.00 and 280 T20I runs at 31.11. His contributions to the team were particularly notable during the T20 World Cup 2024, where he emerged as the highest run-scorer for the Netherlands.
Despite his retirement from international cricket, Engelbrecht’s legacy as a skilled cricketer and exceptional fielder will be remembered by fans and followers of the sport.