Tigers Ready to Take on Netherlands in Sylhet T20I Series

The three-match T20I series between Bangladesh and the Netherlands kicks off on Saturday at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. Despite Thursday’s rain disrupting practice sessions, both teams made up for the lost time under Friday’s sunshine. Hosts Bangladesh left no stone unturned in their preparations, aiming for a strong start on home soil.

The Tigers held a closed-door training session where media entry was restricted. The session began with fitness and warm-up drills, followed by ground fielding, catching practice, and power-hitting exercises under consultant Julian Wood. Later, the batters engaged in aggressive shot-making while the bowlers focused on control, with split nets allowing simultaneous battles against pace and spin.

The Netherlands, too, looked well-prepared under head coach Ryan Cook, who previously served as Bangladesh’s fielding coach. Returning to familiar surroundings, Cook said, “This place brings back many memories. It’s nice to see familiar faces again.” On Sylhet’s conditions, he added, “It’s hard to predict the wicket just yet, but it looks good. From the BPL and recent T20s here, our team has a fair idea of what to expect.”

In the final stage of preparations, captains Litton Das and Scott Edwards unveiled the series trophy, followed by press conferences. Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons stressed focus, saying, “Right now, we are only thinking about the Netherlands series. Criticism will come if we play poorly, no matter the opposition. What matters is how we perform as a team. If we play to our potential, the results will follow.”

Meanwhile, Cook remained optimistic about his side’s chances: “In T20 cricket, any team can win on any given day. Bangladesh are strong at home, but we are confident and will play with a winning mindset.”

Although Bangladesh hold the edge in rankings and experience, the Netherlands cannot be underestimated. They stunned Sri Lanka and South Africa in recent World Cups and will look to produce another upset.

Key players to watch in the opening game include Bangladesh skipper Litton Das, Towhid Hridoy, Zakir Ali Anik, and Mustafizur Rahman, while the Netherlands will bank on captain Scott Edwards, Max O’Dowd, and Vikramjit Singh.

The Sylhet pitch is expected to favor batting with some assistance for seamers, while the weather forecast looks ideal for cricket.

All signs point to an exciting contest as Bangladesh seek a winning start to the series, while the Netherlands aim to spring a surprise. Cricket fans await eagerly—which side will have the last laugh in Sylhet?