Teams: Bangladesh vs Netherlands
Event: ICC T20 World Cup Group D clash
Date and Time: Thursday, June 13, 10:30am local time (14:30 GMT)
Venue: Arnos Vale Stadium, Kingstown, Saint Vincent

In their third group game of the T20 World Cup, Bangladesh and the Netherlands are set to face off with the winning team strengthening their chances of moving to the Super Eight stage.

Group D competition continues in the Caribbean, with the upcoming match taking place at Arnos Vale Stadium in Kingstown, Saint Vincent.

Both teams currently have two points from their two matches, placing them between the leading team South Africa, which has already advanced to the Super Eights, and the lower-ranked Nepal and Sri Lanka, who are less likely to qualify.

Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto of Bangladesh emphasizes that the key to victory is how well each team adapts to the conditions.

"It is very challenging to predict how many runs can be scored on this wicket, so quickly assessing the pitch is crucial," Shanto mentioned to the press on Wednesday.

He is optimistic that the Bangladeshi supporters will continue their enthusiastic backing in the West Indies, just as they did in the US segment of the tournament.

"Regardless of where we play, our fans will be there, especially in the West Indies. It's a great feeling," he added.

Bangladeshi fans hope the team's progress to the Super Eights isn’t merely a matter of prayer, as one fan's poster read, "You play, we pray," during their game against South Africa.

‘We play do-or-die matches all year’

The Netherlands recognizes the significance of this match as well, with bowler Logan van Beek describing the team's prep work as "very pleasant."

"This is probably our most critical game of the tournament," van Beek said.

He anticipates a flat wicket without much variation but acknowledges uncertainties for both teams.

The Dutch team is positive about clinching a crucial victory against their group adversaries.

"Our confidence has grown from triumphing over major teams at key tournaments and in critical matches. We have consistently risen to the occasion, and that’s the Dutch way. We frequently find ourselves in these 'do-or-die’ scenarios throughout the year, making us accustomed to the pressure and eager to face it again."

Pitch and weather conditions

The Arnos Vale Stadium is somewhat of an enigma as it hasn't hosted an international cricket match in a decade. Historically, the pitch has favored both batsmen and bowlers, with spinners often having success.

The weather forecast predicts a typically hot and humid day without any rain.

Head-to-head

The two teams have confronted each other four times in T20 cricket. Bangladesh has won three of these encounters, including the latest one at the T20 World Cup 2022.

The Netherlands secured their only T20 victory against Bangladesh in 2012.

Form guide

So far in the tournament, both teams have registered one win and one loss, both against South Africa.

Bangladesh's strategy has largely relied on powerful hitting by their batsmen and reliable performances from lower-order veteran Mahmudullah. Rishad Hossain has also played a vital role with the ball.

The Netherlands have been disciplined with their bowling and remarkable in their fielding. They now need their batting to elevate its performance.

Bangladesh: L W W L L
Netherlands: L W L L L

Bangladesh team news

Shak Mahedi Hasan may play his first T20 World Cup game; his off-break bowling and batting skills might prove useful in the Caribbean.

Squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Taskin Ahmed, Litton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Shakib Al Hasan, Tawhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah Riyad, Jaker Ali Anik, Tanvir Islam, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib.

Netherlands team news

Their playing XI is expected to remain unchanged.

Squad: Scott Edwards (captain), Aryan Dutt, Bas de Leede, Daniel Doram, Fred Klaassen, Logan van Beek, Max O’Dowd, Michael Levitt, Paul van Meekeren, Sybrand Engelbrecht, Teja Nidamanuru, Tim Pringle, Vikram Singh, Viv Kingma, Wesley Barresi.