Netherlands will make their first bilateral trip to Bangladesh later this month, squeezing in three night T20s that should sharpen both teams before the looming Asia Cup. The Dutch squad is due in Dhaka on 26 August, then straight up to Sylhet for three days of training. All matches are in Sylhet: 30 August, 1 September and 3 September, each starting at 6 pm local time.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) pulled the series together after India postponed a planned white-ball tour that had been pencilled in for mid-August. Without it, Bangladesh faced nearly a month of idle time before the Asia Cup, which begins on 9 September. Talks were also held with Nepal, but the Netherlands deal proved the simplest to close.
History between the two sides is brief but not without talking points. They have met only five times in T20 internationals, Bangladesh winning four. Netherlands’ most-famous visit to the country came during the 2014 T20 World Cup, when a whirlwind chase against Ireland in Sylhet pushed them into the main round.
Sylhet again hosts the Dutch, this time in a purpose-built stadium rather than the temporary structure used in 2014. The ground tends to offer spin early in the evening and a bit of dew later on, so both coaches will be juggling bowling options. Bangladesh’s selectors are expected to keep faith with their core Asia Cup group, though one or two fringe seamers could get a look-in. The Dutch, meanwhile, are likely to blend familiar faces—think Scott Edwards and Paul van Meekeren—with a couple of younger quicks who impressed in their domestic T20.
BCB cricket operations chief Jalal Yunus admitted the timetable is tight but sees clear value. “Three hard games before a regional tournament is ideal preparation for us,” he said. Netherlands head coach Ryan Cook echoed that view: “Bangladesh offers challenging conditions and exactly the sort of cricket our players need.”
Match schedule (all in Sylhet):
• 1st T20I – Friday, 30 August, 6 pm
• 2nd T20I – Sunday, 1 September, 6 pm
• 3rd T20I – Tuesday, 3 September, 6 pm
It is only the second bilateral series between the two nations—the first came back in 2012, when Bangladesh toured the Netherlands. This time the roles are reversed, and in a season clogged with global events it is a handy, if hurried, arrangement for both camps.
