T20 World Cup 2025/26, IRE vs ZIM 32nd Match, Group B Match Preview

Big picture – a win would take Zimbabwe into the Super Eights

Sri Lanka have qualified, but Ireland now know that a win against Zimbabwe on Tuesday will keep them with realistic chances of qualification – provided Sri Lanka also beat Zimbabwe in their final match.

If the specific set of circumstances – which includes Australia beating Oman – occurs, Australia, Zimbabwe and Ireland could all finish on four points, separated only by net run-rate.

But it is possible that he may overtake us. Zimbabwe need a win against Ireland to end all speculation, and considering they are coming off an impressive 23-run win over Australia, it will take a brave man to back them against them.

Captain Sikandar Raza is also not one of those who allows his team to slack off. He stressed the need to maintain focus and warned that earlier performances would mean “nothing” if the team fell behind now.

Meanwhile, Ireland have lost to Sri Lanka and Australia earlier in the tournament, but their impressive 96-run win over Oman – including a tournament-high 235 – has provided a timely boost in confidence. They also come with a sign on their shoulders regarding the constant comparisons with associate nations, which they will be keen to rectify with a win over Zimbabwe.

What’s more unpredictability in this game is that the historic rivalry is remarkably balanced, with both sides winning eight of their 18 T20I meetings.

form guide

ireland WLLWW (Last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
zimbabwe WWLLW

In the headlines – fast bowlers of both the teams

Offering extra bounce, the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium is one of the rare grounds in Sri Lanka where more wickets have fallen off the seam (201) than off the spin (154). It would be no surprise if the fast bowlers of both the teams prove to be the difference on Tuesday.

Zimbabwe have a pace trio of Richard Ngarawa, Blessing Muzarabani and Brad Evans that any team in this tournament can be the envy of. He has taken 16 wickets and managed to beat Australia even after Ngarawa was dropped from the eleven. Additionally, Muzarabani has won two Player of the Match awards.

In Mark Adair, Ireland have the quintessential work horse. Despite debuting after Josh Little and Barry McCarthy, he has played more T20Is – 100 – than the other two and has managed to take 142 wickets. He also enjoys bowling against Zimbabwe; His 24 wickets are the most taken against any opponent. With Little finding his form last time out, taking three wickets for the first time since March 2024, Ireland will know that any chance of success depends on how quickly their seam-bowling unit finds its rhythm.

Team News – Ngarawa likely to return for Zimbabwe

Ireland are unlikely to change their winning combination after their exploits against Oman.

ireland (Probable XI): 1 Tim Tector, 2 Ross Adair, 3 Harry Tector, 4 Lorcan Tucker (c & wk), 5 Curtis Campher, 6 George Dockrell, 7 Gareth Delany, 8 Mark Adair, 9 Josh Little, 10 Barry McCarthy, 11 Matthew Humphreys

Zimbabwe will have been keeping a close eye on the pitch on which Sri Lanka played Australia, but the only expected change is the return of Richard Ngarawa who missed the last time out as a precaution.

zimbabwe (Probable XI): 1 Brian Bennett, 2 Tadivanashe Marumani (wk), 3 Dion Myers, 4 Sikandar Raza (capt), 5 Ryan Burl, 6 Tashinga Musekiwa, 7 Brad Evans, 8 Wellington Masakadza, 9 Graeme Cremer, 10 Blessing Muzarabani, 11 Richard Ngarawa

pitch and conditions

There is a threat of rain throughout the tournament, but that threat has not materialized yet. The forecast for Tuesday is quite poor, with some rain possible in the morning and evening. As far as the pitch goes, Mark Adair dubbed it “Sri Lanka’s best wicket” and in terms of competition between bat and ball, you would be hard-pressed to argue. Although it will be a used track, Australia and Sri Lanka have played on it the night before.

Statistics and General Knowledge

Ngarawa’s 15 wickets are the second most by any fast bowler against Ireland in T20Is, behind Paul van Meekeren’s 18 wickets.
Only Rashid Khan (34) and Mustafizur Rahman (27) have more T20I wickets against Zimbabwe than Mark Adair (24).
Sikandar Raza needs 87 more runs to become the first Zimbabwean to reach 3,000 runs in T20Is

Citation

“The beauty of these ICC events is that you practically feel like every game is a knockout game. And I think it’s also great for our own mental toughness and development, how well we manage our own expectations rather than what the world wants from us. The biggest challenge is trying to stay with the present and not get too excited about what’s going to happen next.”
Sikandar Raza enjoying under pressure

“I think whenever we’re away from home, our schedule is always very busy – but it’s OK every time we’re in Colombo. We played three matches in Colombo, so it was the same hotel, two different grounds, which is OK. It would be different if we were flying around India or driving to Kandy and had to play straight away. But we’ve done that once, so I don’t think it’s too bad.”
mark adair On the challenges of the tournament schedule