Historic First Bilateral Series in Bangladesh
Bangladesh vs Netherlands: First T20I Today. Bangladesh and the Netherlands face each other in their first-ever bilateral series on Bangladeshi soil. The three-match T20I series starts today at 6 PM at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
Netherlands Seize the Opportunity
The Dutch toured Bangladesh twice before but never played against the Tigers here. With Bangladesh’s planned series against India postponed, the Netherlands stepped in and accepted the invitation without hesitation.
Dutch Coach Confident of Upset
For the Netherlands, this series carries huge importance. Head coach Ryan Cook expressed confidence:
“We believe that if we play good cricket, we can beat any team. We’ve shown before that we’re capable of doing it.”
Cook reminded everyone of the last T20 World Cup clash where the Netherlands defeated Bangladesh. As Bangladesh’s former fielding coach, he added a firm warning:
“We beat them in the last World Cup. If we’re drawn in the same group again, we’ll try to do it again.”
Netherlands on a Steady Path of Growth
Proud of his team’s progress, Cook praised his players’ hard work:
“Some players need to step up, but the boys have worked hard over the past three years. As an associate nation, we’ve built steady progress. We’ve featured in multiple World Cups, and this will be our fourth consecutive appearance (sixth overall). We’re learning how to compete with—and beat—bigger teams.”
Bangladesh Return with Asia Cup in Sight
Bangladesh return to international cricket after a month-long break. They also view this series as preparation for the upcoming Asia Cup in the UAE. Yet, head coach Phil Simmons dismissed any notion of taking the Dutch lightly:
“We’re playing three international T20s here against a proper international team. They’ve played in the last two World Cups and done well. In world cricket, there’s no room to underrate anyone. Everyone has a chance to win. My focus is on this series, not the Asia Cup.”
Simmons Defends His Players
Simmons acknowledged the pressure of expectations but defended his team:
“Even if we lose to Australia, criticism follows. Losing to a lower-ranked team brings even more. If we play poorly, we’ll deserve criticism. But if we play well and still lose, then credit goes to the opposition.”
Head-to-Head Favors Bangladesh
Bangladesh hold the edge in head-to-head records. Out of five T20Is between the two nations, Bangladesh won four, while the Netherlands claimed just one victory.
