Salahuddin Rejects Experimentation for Bangladesh in Crucial Second T20I Against Netherlands

Bangladesh's senior assistant coach Mohammad Salahuddin said on Sunday that the team is not considering any experimentation as they prepare to face the Netherlands in the second game of the ongoing three-match T20I series, scheduled at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on September 1.

Bangladesh came into the series high on confidence after wins against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, and carried that form into the opener against the Dutch, clinching a comfortable eight-wicket win to go 1-0 up.

With the series seen as a dress rehearsal for the upcoming Asia Cup, there were expectations that the hosts might look to test their bench strength. Salahuddin, however, ruled that out.

"Look, at the end of the day, this is not really a place to experiment. This is international cricket. If it were a practice match, I might have had room to try things. But in international cricket, there's no space for experimentation. I have to make the decisions required to win, and that's exactly what I will try to do," Salahuddin told reporters ahead of the second T20I.

"In our profession, there's really no room for being satisfied. We can never be fully satisfied because you have to improve every single day. International cricket is very tough. Every moment brings new challenges - whether in how you play, how you think, or the situations you face. So there's nothing here to feel satisfied about," he added.

Salahuddin credited the extended preparation period before the series - a rare luxury - for helping the coaching staff focus on development.

"Since we had a longer preparation period this time, it gave us a proper opportunity to focus on all aspects - fitness, fielding, batting. Normally, during international matches, there isn't much of a gap, so players don't really get the chance to develop their personal skills. This time, we had that opportunity, which is a positive for us," he said.

"At the end of the day, what matters is how the players develop into bigger cricketers. Even if we fill the dressing room with coaching staff, it doesn't guarantee results. What truly matters is how the players perform, how they improve, and how they think. And I see a lot of change in that area. In the future, Insha'Allah, there will be even more," he said.

Salahuddin was also impressed with the way Saif Hassan returned to international cricket after a two-year gap.

"I've asked you guys before, don't elevate someone too quickly, and don't drop them too quickly either. When a player performs well and makes a comeback, it shows a strong mentality. He (Saif) had the tag of being primarily a Test player and was thought perhaps not suited for white-ball cricket, but he overcame that and demonstrated his character - not everyone can do that," said Salahuddin.

"International cricket is tough and failing in the first six or seven matches is normal, and mentally bouncing back from that is difficult. The fact that he managed it shows his character. He made a personal effort to improve, which is why he is developing well. I hope he can continue to show the character he displayed in yesterday's match because this is very tough cricket. Success isn't guaranteed - it depends on how consistently you maintain it over time," he added.

Meanwhile, Netherlands middle-order batter Noah Croes said his team believes they can still turn the series around despite trailing 1-0.

"Definitely we can make a comeback. The camp has really great belief, and as I said before, we're taking some really good lessons from last night. We really think our best cricket can stack up against Bangladesh," said Croes. "So there is no reason why we can't get a series win.

"The conditions here are quite foreign and it just offers a different challenge, but we're ready for another two opportunities," he added.