The Dutch cricket team is set to arrive in India during the second week of September for a series of warm-up matches. These games will be held in Bengaluru, a few days ahead of the official pre-tournament warm-up games. An official from the Netherlands cricket association confirmed the team’s early arrival, stating that these matches are crucial for them as they have not played any competitive games since qualifying for the World Cup last month.
Following the practice games in Bengaluru, the team will head to either Hyderabad or Thiruvananthapuram for their official warm-up matches. Hyderabad is the preferred destination as the Netherlands will be playing their first two World Cup matches in the city
The busy schedule planned ahead of the quadrennial event is of great importance for the Netherlands team. Coach Ryan Cook had made an emotional plea to have matches in the sub-continent to acclimatize to the conditions, considering their limited experience in this region.
“This is a call-out to anyone who wants to play us. We’d love to have a fixture or two. Our guys have not been to the sub-continent many times before, so it would be good to have some fixtures somewhere in the sub-continent as well, “
he expressed after their World Cup qualification.
The upcoming World Cup will mark the Netherlands’ fifth appearance in the tournament and their first since 2011. The team is eager to make the most of their warm-up matches and adapt to the sub-continental conditions ahead of their opening match against Pakistan on October 6 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. On October 9, they will face New Zealand at the same venue.
This early arrival and well-planned warm-up schedule reflect the Dutch team’s determination to put forth a competitive performance in the prestigious cricket event. As the excitement builds up for the World Cup, Netherlands aims to make their mark and compete at the highest level on the global stage.
