BSS
  29 Aug 2025, 22:13

We wouldn't be here if we didn't think we could win: Cook

DHAKA, Aug 29, 2025 (BSS) — Netherlands head coach Ryan Cook stayed positive about their target in Bangladesh, saying that they believe they are capable of winning against the hosts.

"In the T20 format, any team can win on any given day. They (Bangladesh) have played some good cricket recently, but also have shown that they are vulnerable in other series as well,” Cook told the reporters in Sylhet today as his side gear up for the three-match series opening T20 match, beginning tomorrow (Saturday) at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

"So now we've come here confident that we can play a good game of cricket. We wouldn't be here if we didn't think we could win some games. And if we are drawn in the same groups again, we'd want to try and beat them again."

Cook, a former Bangladesh fielding coach, has also the good idea about the Bangladesh team and the conditions. 

"So lovely to be back and seeing the faces again . . . really good memories here before. And great to be back at this venue as well," Cook said.

He informed that the Netherlands trained on various surfaces back at home to cope with the Bangladesh wicket. 

"We are a team that prides themselves on being able to adjust. Many of these players were playing on a mat on a 4G astroturf last weekend. And sometimes they're playing on inserted astroturfs on soccer fields,” he pointed out. 

And then the odd time we get to play on turf as well. So we've got so many different ways that we've been able to play, he said.

“So when we come to these venues, we actually feel like we can adjust to the conditions quite quickly because we have to adjust to a whole bunch of different conditions where we're from as well,” he added.