Netherlands’ coach Ryan Campbell in an interview with ICC backed his pacers, who were instrumental in their success in the qualifying tournament in Dubai, to fire in the ICC T20 World Cup 2020 later this year.
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2020, comprising 16 teams, is scheduled to start in October but there is an air of uncertainty about the event due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Netherlands is one of the six associate members to have qualified for the main ICC event after wining the qualifying tournament-T20 World Cup Qualifier- in Dubai and Abu Dhabi last year. They had defeated PNG in the final of the tournament to defend their title.
Credit should be given to the bowler
During the chat Ryan Campbell praised all the bowlers for dominating the qualifying tournament. He also opened up on his decision to go to Dubai with five seamers.
“Some questioned it. [But] we felt that if get the conditions to suit, that genuine pace, on wickets that wasn’t 100% true bounce, was going to be a handful … We built our team around fast bowlers. We played four at once in some games, which is unheard of on the subcontinent, but something that we really believed in, and that was the difference between us not only qualifying but winning the whole competition.”
He also told that they have set themselves with a aim to finish the group stage in top two positions. Although, the pandemic has hit them hard, they are striving to battle the tournament with full pace.
“We will do whatever it takes to make sure that we are ready for the World Cup,” Campbell said. “Obviously the World Cup is so important, to every country in general, but especially to Associate countries. This is our chance to be on the big stage.
The conditions in Australia will suit us
Ryan Campbell, talking further said, “our pacers have done a wonderful job in the qualifier and they will continue it in the main event as well since the conditions in Australia suits the fast bowlers.” He hoped that the bowlers especially pacers will unsettle Bangladesh, a full member of ICC, placed in the Group B alongside Netherlands, Namibia and Scotland.
“People will assume that Bangladesh [can] brush the Associates aside and go forward, but I really believe the pressure will be on Bangladesh,” he said.
Commenting on the COVID-19 issue, he said that it’s time to observing the situation and hoped that the T20 tournament will played in its originally scheduled time.
“It has been a setback for everyone, but hopefully everyone is staying safe and the safety where applies is the most important thing but come October, we will be ready to go.”
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