Vikramjit Singh has been drafted back into the Netherlands squad for three T20 internationals in Bangladesh later this month, the selectors confirming the move on Wednesday. The left-hand opener, 22, missed July’s home qualifying tournament but is set to partner Max O’Dowd at the top of the order in Sylhet on 30 August, 1 and 3 September.
Leg-spinner Shariz Ahmad and left-arm seamer Ben Fletcher also return after last featuring in June’s Glasgow tri-series. All three step in for the rested Bas de Leede, Roelof van der Merwe, Michael Levitt, Zach Lion-Cachet and Hidde Overdijk.
Head coach Ryan Cook explained the thinking. “Vikramjit has shown improved intent at the top of the order and we want to reward that progress,” he said. On Shariz, Cook added: “His wrong-’un can be a real handful on slow surfaces.”
The backbone of the side that clinched World Cup qualification remains. Captain-keeper Scott Edwards again leads a batting group bolstered by O’Dowd, Teja Nidamanuru and the versatile Saqib Zulfiqar. Kyle Klein, impressive with seven wickets in the qualifiers, continues alongside Paul van Meekeren and off-spinner Aryan Dutt.
Analytically, the omissions of de Leede and van der Merwe leave a chunk of all-round overs unaccounted for. Fletcher, a tall left-arm quick capable of swinging the new ball, is likely to share the power-play workload, while Shariz offers a wrist-spin option that has been missing since Philippe Boissevain’s injury last year.
Local conditions in Sylhet tend to favour slower bowling as matches wear on, a factor Edwards acknowledged. “We’ve tried to cover every phase,” the skipper noted. “If Shariz gets it right, he can break partnerships in the middle overs.”
Bangladesh, ranked eighth in the format, are expected to field their full-strength side, making the series a useful yardstick for the Dutch ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
Netherlands squad: Scott Edwards (capt, wk), Noah Croes, Max O’Dowd, Vikramjit Singh, Teja Nidamanuru, Saqib Zulfiqar, Ryan Klein, Kyle Klein, Aryan Dutt, Paul van Meekeren, Shariz Ahmad, Ben Fletcher, Daniel Doram.
