'We will beat Bangladesh', says Netherlands captain ahead of T20I series

Netherlands skipper Scott Edwards believes his team are more than capable of upsetting Bangladesh in their upcoming three-match T20I series, which begins on 30 August in Sylhet.

Edwards, who has guided the Dutch side through a steady rise in confidence following impressive showings at recent World Cups and qualification tournaments, said the squad now genuinely believe they can beat any opponent on their day.

"Yes, absolutely. We always go into every series trying to win and expecting to play good cricket, and if we play well enough, we absolutely have a chance," Edwards said during a press conference at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

That belief, Edwards explained, stems in large part from the Netherlands' experience in high-pressure matches at recent ICC events. Most notably, they stunned Bangladesh in the 2023 ODI World Cup—a result that, according to the 29-year-old, still adds to their confidence, even though the upcoming contest is in a different format.

"Anytime you win games against certain countries, it probably does boost that confidence," Edwards said. "Both sides probably have a lot of different changes from those teams, but we're confident in the cricket we've been playing recently."

The series represents the Netherlands' first-ever bilateral tour to Bangladesh. However, the Dutch have fond memories of the Sylhet venue, having registered a famous victory over Ireland at the ground during the 2014 T20 World Cup, where they chased down 190 in just 13.5 overs.

Edwards acknowledged that Bangladesh remain a formidable side, particularly in home conditions. "Bangladesh is obviously a very good side, especially traditionally in home conditions," he said. "The biggest challenge when travelling to a different country is that Bangladesh obviously knows a lot more about the conditions than we do. We've got to adapt really quickly and get a feel for the conditions."

Despite the challenges, Edwards insisted his team are well prepared.

"Absolutely, we can overcome these situations [the conditions and the time to prepare].

"More often than not, when we prepare for a series, we probably only get two or three practices in before the first game. A lot of our guys do have experience in the subcontinent, so we'll obviously bring our experiences from there, and for the newer guys, we'll try, and fast-forward their preparations.

"It's obviously a tough series; many countries come over here and struggle, so we know it's going to be tough, and we're going to have to put our best foot forward right from the start."

The series also serves as crucial preparation for the Netherlands ahead of next year's T20 World Cup in India. Edwards said gaining match exposure in Asian conditions was exactly what his team needed after securing qualification.

"For us, after qualifying, the first thing we wanted was match experience in Asia. The opportunity to play three T20s against a quality side like Bangladesh is perfect for the start of our preparation," he noted.