Bangladesh Add Twenty20s In Netherlands To Europe Tour

Bangladesh Add Twenty20s In Netherlands To Europe Tour

The Netherlands will play Bangladesh, who also play Scotland in late July

©REUTERS / Action Images

Bangladesh will follow up their recently-announced tour of Ireland with a brace of Twenty20 Internationals in the Netherlands.

They will leave Ireland, where they play three matches, on 22nd July ahead of a game apiece against Scotland and the Netherlands on 24th July.

Scotland take on the Asia Cup runners-up on 24th before Bangladesh play the Netherlands one day later. Both matches will be held at the Voorburg Cricket Club, near The Hague.

"We are delighted to have secured the opportunity to host a Full Member country on home soil as it has been some time since this last happened," KNCB Chief Executive Richard Cox said.

"We also welcome Scotland and wish both teams well for an entertaining encounter. However the opportunity for Peter Borren and his team to pit their skills against a top side is a wonderful experience for everyone concerned and a marker in our development. We also thank Voorburg CC for agreeing to host the games at relatively short notice.”

"In addition I would like to thank the ICC High Performance Programme and ICC Europe for their support for the matches without which this could not take place. We will also endeavour to have suitable start times to cater for interested supporters to attend the matches."

Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim added: "The T20 game is a great leveller and our matches against the Netherlands and Scotland should be very interesting.

"Netherlands have beaten England in a World T20 game and Scotland has some fine players. The Bangladesh side will obviously try to put on a good show. We have the world's best all-rounder in Shakib Al Hasan and some exciting names like Tamim Iqbal and Nasir Hossain.

"Our natural attacking style compliments the Twenty20 format and I am sure the cricket fans will be entertained. We are also very happy to play during this Europe tour three Associate countries that have shown a great intent in developing their cricket."

Peter Borren, Netherlands captain said: "We cant wait for this game and our current form suggests we can put in a really good performance against a top side."

Netherlands currently sit on top of their group in the Clydesdale Bank 40 competition, England's List A domestic tournament with four wins from six.

Neither the Netherlands nor Scotland qualified for the ICC World Twenty20 2012, to be held in Sri Lanka, where Bangladesh and Ireland will feature, but both sides will have an eye on qualification in 2014, when the tournament is expanded to include 16 teams.

© Cricket World 2012