Edwards: Bangladesh clash is ‘Perfect’ Prep for 2026 T20 World Cup
Scott Edwards, Cricfrenzy
With India pulling out of their scheduled tour, Bangladesh has brought in the Netherlands to fine-tune preparations for the upcoming Asia Cup.
While the Tigers have their sights set on the continental event, the Dutch side are using this series to gear up for the 2026 T20 World Cup. Netherlands skipper Scott Edwards described the three-match T20I series in Sylhet as “perfect” preparation for the global tournament.
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Originally, India were scheduled to tour Bangladesh for three ODIs and three T20Is. However, with the Indian government failing to provide clearance, the BCCI postponed the tour by 13 months.
In search of opponents, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) held discussions with several boards before finalizing a three-match T20I series against the Netherlands.
The Dutch team landed in Dhaka on the morning of August 27 before travelling to Sylhet later that day. They began training at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on August 28, kicking off their World Cup preparations under head coach Ryan Cook.
Speaking at the pre-series press conference, Edwards said their primary target was to gain experience of playing in Asia.
“Yes, absolutely. Our first aim for World Cup qualification was to experience conditions in Asia. I believe playing three T20Is against a quality side like Bangladesh is the perfect preparation for us,” Edwards remarked.
This marks the Netherlands’ first bilateral tour of Bangladesh. Their last appearance on Bangladeshi soil was during the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. Although they featured in the 2014 ICC T20 World Cup hosted in Bangladesh, they did not face the Tigers in that event.
Excited about the opportunity, Edwards praised the BCB for arranging the series.
“Yes, it’s very exciting for us. I think the chance given by the BCB to play here is fantastic. It will be great preparation ahead of the World Cup, and even for Bangladesh, it’s a valuable build-up to the Asia Cup. We’re all looking forward to it,” Edwards added.
