DHAKA, Aug 29, 2025 (BSS)—Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons urged his cricketers to maintain the standard in the three-match T20 International series against Netherlands to quell any possibility of upset.

The series opening game is tomorrow (Saturday) at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium with Bangladesh seeking a winning start. 

Speaking at a press conference at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today, Simmons, said they’ve always gone into any match against any opponents with an aim to win it.

“We don't think about losing to anybody. We think about how we play and the standards we want to set. And I'm sure if we play to that level, we will win,” Simmons said.

His comment came in the wake of the concern to loss a match against a lower ranked side like the Netherlands.

While a victory with ease is expected, Bangladesh team management knew a defeat would draw huge flak. Asked whether the possibility put a pressure on them, Simmon downplayed the notion.

 “If we lose against Australia, we get criticized. So, losing against a team that is lower down on the table is not a bad thing, because if we don't play well on the day, we deserve to be criticized,” he said. 

“If we play well and they beat us, they deserve it. So, we don't think about losing to anybody.”

Bangladesh have won four matches in five meetings against the Dutch with the last defeat in this format coming in 2012. 

The Netherlands, however, stunned Bangladesh in ICC ODI World Cup in 2023 in India. The victory is believed to fuel their belief to win a T20 match against Bangladesh for the first time after 13 years. 

The Netherlands have already qualified for the 2026 T20 World Cup as European qualifiers champions. While the Netherlands’ progress in recent time is envious, they have also the knack to upset the big guns. They had shown promise in the last two editions of the T20 World Cup, famously beating South Africa in 2022.

“We are playing three T20 internationals. And once you say internationals, it's an international team. They've played in the last two World Cups,” Simmons said. 

“They've done well when they've played in the World Cup. So, I don't think, I can't see us underrating anybody. You know, in World Cricket now, you don't underrate people,” Simmons noted. 

Simmons said there is no reason to be relaxed due to their past records against Netherlands in T20 format. 

“Everybody has a chance to win. Everybody's playing good cricket now. So, we've got to play to a standard that we want to continue playing at,” he said.