From fitness to strategy: Dutch coach Nikark praises Bangladesh’s all-round improvement

The Netherlands lost a back-to-back T20 series to Bangladesh at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. Ryan Cook’s side had come to Sylhet with fond memories of their victory over Bangladesh in the 2023 World Cup, but this time they couldn’t replicate that success. Although the Dutch team had previously secured a memorable win against Ireland at this venue in 2014, none of those players are part of the current squad, and perhaps that lack of experience contributed to their struggles in Sylhet.

However, Dutch assistant coach Ryan von Nikark has praised the Bangladeshi team for their performance. He noted that Bangladesh’s consistent progress, particularly in T20 cricket, has caught the attention of visiting teams.

Speaking at the post-match press conference after the second T20, he said, “In the 2023 World Cup, we beat Bangladesh. But now, their athleticism, fitness, smart batting, everything has improved. Young players are coming into the system, and the team now has many options. This level of improvement in Bangladesh is inspiring for us too.”

He highlighted Bangladesh’s recent achievements, including three consecutive T20 series wins, victories in Sri Lanka, and significant home wins over Pakistan.

“Bangladesh is now a top nation. Playing against them is a big opportunity for us. We want to regularly compete with the best teams and take on major challenges,” Nikark added.

When asked about Bangladesh’s prospects in the upcoming Asia Cup, he commented, “In white-ball cricket, many teams are now closely matched. UAE has played well, but Bangladesh’s consistency is remarkable. The team has pace, variety, a mix of right- and left-handed combinations, fast bowlers clocking 135 km/h, and spinners like Mehedi for the new ball. The young batters are also performing well. Overall, they have a strong chance to do well in the Asia Cup.”

While Bangladesh’s progress impresses their opponents, the Tigers will face even bigger challenges ahead if they are to maintain this consistency.