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Bangladesh will host the Netherlands for a three-match T20I series at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, starting on August 30. The second and third matches will be played on September 1 and September 3, respectively. This series is a crucial part of both teams’ preparations for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. For Bangladesh, it also serves as a vital warm-up before the Asia Cup, which is scheduled to begin shortly after this series. Historically, Bangladesh have a dominant head-to-head record against the Netherlands in T20Is, winning four of their five encounters, including a clean sweep of the three matches played in T20 World Cups. The Netherlands have only managed to secure one victory against the Tigers in this format.
Bangladesh’s recent performance in T20Is
Bangladesh’s recent form in T20I bilateral series is a mix of highs and lows, with a 3-2 win-loss record in their last five series. The team started strong with a commanding 3-0 away win against the West Indies in December 2024. However, they faced setbacks in early 2025, losing 2-1 away to UAE in May and then being whitewashed 3-0 by Pakistan at home. Showing resilience, Bangladesh bounced back with consecutive home and away series victories. They defeated Sri Lanka 2-1 away and then secured a 2-1 home series win against Pakistan. Overall, the team has an 8-7 win-loss record in their last 15 T20Is, indicating an inconsistent but competitive run.
Netherlands’ triumphant journey to the World Cup and preparations for Bangladesh series
The Netherlands has had a fantastic year in T20I cricket, culminating in their victory at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Europe Region Final 2025. This success secured their berth in the upcoming T20 World Cup, and they will now be looking to build on that momentum in their bilateral series against Bangladesh. The European qualifiers, hosted in The Hague, saw the Dutch team demonstrate their class and determination, winning three out of their four matches.
Their campaign began with a clinical seven-wicket win over Jersey, where Max O’Dowd‘s brilliant 62 set the tone. Although they faced a minor setback in a narrow six-run loss to Scotland, they quickly rebounded with a commanding 73-run victory against Guernsey, a match where O’Dowd again shined with an unbeaten 92. Their final, and most crucial, match was a high-stakes encounter against Italy.
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Sylhet International Cricket Stadium Pitch Report
The Sylhet International Cricket Stadium is renowned for its generally balanced playing surface for T20 cricket. While it has traditionally favored batters and been conducive to high-scoring encounters, the pitch also offers something for the bowlers, particularly the fast bowlers. Recent T20 matches at the venue, especially in the last year, have seen a shift with some low-scoring games where spinners have managed to dominate the proceedings. Historically, the pitch has shown a slight preference for the chasing side, with teams batting second having a better win percentage. Therefore, the team winning the toss is likely to opt to field first, backing their bowling attack to restrict the opposition and then chase down the target.
Sylhet International Cricket Stadium: T20I Stats and Records
- Total matches: 59
- Matches won batting first: 35
- Matches won bowling first: 24
- Average 1st Inns scores: 132
- Average 2nd Inns scores: 107
- Highest total recorded: 210/4 (20 Overs) by Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh
- Lowest total recorded: 33/10 (9.5 Overs) by Malaysia Women vs Sri Lanka Women
- Highest score chased: 193/4 (13.5 Overs) by Netherlands vs Ireland
- Lowest score defended: 83/5 (18.1 Overs) by Sri Lanka Women vs Bangladesh Women
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