Bangladesh and the Netherlands begin their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaigns on Sunday at Edgbaston in Birmingham, with the occasion marking a historic first for the Dutch side.
The Netherlands are set to play their first-ever match in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. Interestingly, both teams earned their place in this edition through the global qualifiers. Bangladesh remained unbeaten throughout their qualifying campaign to secure a spot, while the Netherlands topped their group before sealing qualification with three more victories.
In terms of form, Bangladesh lost a home T20I series against Sri Lanka and then failed to win the tri-series in Scotland. They also lost both their warm-up matches against New Zealand and Ireland. Therefore, it is not the kind of momentum they would have hoped to carry into the tournament.
On the other hand, the Netherlands were part of the same tri-series and produced some inspiring performances. Against Bangladesh, they registered their first-ever T20I victory over the side. Even in another rain-curtailed match against the same opposition, they came close to completing the chase. They also lost both of their warm-up fixtures against Scotland and Sri Lanka.
Still, there are several positives for the Netherlands heading into their maiden T20 World Cup match. How much they can deliver on the World Cup stage, however, remains to be seen.
Head-to-head
Bangladesh have lost only one match against the Netherlands, and that defeat came during the tri-series in Scotland earlier this month.
Total matches played: 5
Bangladesh won: 4
Netherlands won: 1
Performance in T20 World Cup 2024
Bangladesh: Suffered a group-stage exit after managing just one win in four matches, with that victory coming against Scotland.
Netherlands: Failed to qualify for the tournament.
Players to watch out for
Bangladesh – Sobhana Mostary
Sobhana Mostary will need to play a key role in Bangladesh’s middle order. She was outstanding during the qualifiers, finishing as the second-highest run-scorer and also being named Player of the Tournament. Bangladesh will now hope she can carry that form onto the biggest stage. Although she managed a few starts during the recent tri-series in Scotland and the warm-up matches, she was unable to convert them into significant scores. However, she has also chipped in with the ball by picking up a few wickets, making her a valuable all-round option.
Netherlands – Heather Siegers
Heather Siegers’ all-round contributions could prove vital for the Netherlands in this competition. She enters the tournament with some important performances behind her, including a 52-run knock and three wickets against Bangladesh during the tri-series. She also played a fluent innings of 48 against Sri Lanka in a warm-up match, giving her plenty of confidence heading into the World Cup.
Pitch and Weather
The Edgbaston pitch is generally considered batting-friendly and is known for offering true bounce. Seamers could find some early swing with the new ball, especially if there is a bit of breeze around. Overall, however, batters are expected to enjoy the conditions once they get set and should be able to score freely.
As for the weather, according to AccuWeather, clear skies are expected in Birmingham and there is no threat of rain likely to hamper or delay the match. While it may become slightly cloudy at times, conditions are not expected to have any major impact on the game.
Probable Playing XIs
Bangladesh
Dilara Akter, Juairiya Ferdous, Sharmin Akhter, Nigar Sultana (c), Sobhana Mostary, Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni, Nahida Akter, Marufa Akter, Rabeya Khan, Fahima Khatun
Netherlands
Heather Siegers, Phebe Molkenboer, Babette de Leede (c), Sterre Kalis, Robine Rijke, Sanya Khurana, Frederique Overdijk, Iris Zwilling, Caroline de Lange, Silver Siegers, Isabel van der Woning.
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