Waasland Welcomes a Fresh ECN Field as ECS Belgium 2026 Lands in Beveren

ECS Belgium, Waasland, 2026 brings seven senior men’s club sides to Beveren Cricket Ground for a packed six-day cricket showcase. With every team stepping onto the ECN stage for the first time, the Belgium Cricket Federation-backed event is set up for a brand-new champion and a brand-new story.

A New Chapter in Beveren

The ECS returns to Belgium with ECS Belgium, Waasland, 2026, staged in Beveren, Belgium, at the Beveren Cricket Ground under the banner of the Belgium Cricket Federation.

This is a senior men’s clubs event, running from Monday 7 September 2026 to Saturday 12 September 2026, with 25 matches planned across six match days. The field features seven teams: Beveren Titans, St Niklaas Capitals, Stekene Defenders, Zwijndrecht Challengers, Kruibeke Polders, Lokeren Super Giants, and Temse Knight Riders.

And here’s the big storyline: all seven are newcomers to ECN competition. That means Waasland 2026 is wide open, with every side chasing a first ECN statement.

The Seven-Team Field

On paper, the teams are beautifully level. Every side carries an overall ECN team rating of 49, and every team is also rated 49 across batting, bowling, and fielding.

The rankings offer the only separation heading into the event. Beveren Titans lead the group at 4,661, followed by St Niklaas Capitals at 4,662, Stekene Defenders at 4,663, Zwijndrecht Challengers at 4,664, Kruibeke Polders at 4,665, Lokeren Super Giants at 4,666, and Temse Knight Riders at 4,667.

With such even ratings across the board, the tournament has the feel of a true fresh-start contest, where reputations can be built quickly.

Lokeren’s Experience Factor

While the teams are new to ECN events, Lokeren Super Giants bring some serious individual pedigree.

Sherry Butt arrives as the standout volume performer in the competition field, having played 114 ECN matches, scored 2,883 ECN runs, and launched 263 maximos. Those are the leading marks among players involved in this event, making him one of the biggest names to follow in Beveren.

Lokeren also have wicket-taking firepower through Murid Ekrami, who is the top ECN wicket-taker among the players in this event with 60 wickets.

Kruibeke’s Double-Rated Star

For Kruibeke Polders, the headline act is Esmatullah Naseri.

Naseri owns the highest ECN batter rating among players in the event at 97, and he also tops the bowling ratings with 98. Add in the best bowling average in the field, 11.8, and Kruibeke have a genuine two-skill force around whom to build their campaign.

Kruibeke also feature Shawazir Stanikzai, who brings the highest maximo rate among players in the tournament at 20.0.

Titans, Capitals and Challengers to Watch

Beveren Titans have two major individual markers. Emran Mamozai comes in with the highest batting average among players in the event at 52.5, while Ashiqullah Said owns the best bowling economy rate at 8.4.

For St Niklaas Capitals, the eye-catching number belongs to Samsoor Shirzad, whose batting strike rate of 257.0 is the highest in the field.

Zwijndrecht Challengers also bring major highlights. Wahidullah Jabarkhel has the best bowling strike rate among players involved at 5.6, and he also owns the highest top score in the field: 94(32)* for Antwerp against Royal Brussels on 8 May 2025. Team-mate Arafat Afghan holds the best bowling figures among event players, a superb 5/12 from 2.0 overs for Mechelen Eagles against Hornchurch on 29 February 2024.

What to Expect

With seven debuting ECN teams, identical ratings across batting, bowling, fielding, and overall strength, plus a schedule of 25 matches squeezed into six match days, Waasland 2026 promises a rare kind of tournament: one where everyone starts with a clean slate.

By the end of Saturday 12 September, one of these clubs will have turned a first ECN appearance into something much bigger.