Pieter Seelaar

Pieter Marinus Seelaar (born 2 July 1987) is a Dutch cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and a left-arm orthodox spin bowler. Having played for The Netherlands at Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19 level, he made his senior debut in a C&G Trophy game against Warwickshire on 3 May 2005. He then played in the ICC Trophy later that year. He made his One Day International debut against Sri Lanka on 6 July 2006. Two years later he made his Twenty20 International debut.

The 2008 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier was hosted by Ireland, the pre-tournament favourites. Of the six teams participating, the tournament marker the first time four of them played Twenty20 Internationals (T20I) including the Netherlands. The opening match between the Netherlands and Kenya nine of the Netherlands' players, including Seelaar, were playing not just their first T20I, but their first twenty20 match. Seelaar took two wickets while conceding 59 runs, and after rain prevent the final from being held the title was shared between Ireland and the Netherlands, both of whom qualified for the 2009 World Twenty20 in England.

In April 2009 a qualifying tournament for the 2011 World Cup was held. It allowing Associate and Affiliate members of the ICC a chance to qualify for the World Cup, and the Netherlands was amongst the successful teams. Seelaar picked up seven wickets from eight matches, on average each costing over fifty runs. In June, the Netherlands participated in the World T20 in England. Though the Netherlands did not progress beyond the first round, they beat England in the opening match of the tournament, an achievement hailed by captain Jeroen Smits as "Without doubt, the biggest day in Dutch cricket history". Seelaar took three wickets in the Netherlands' two matches whilst conceding 69 runs.