Fresh off a remarkable win over former T20 World Cup champions Australia, Zimbabwe are brimming with confidence heading into Tuesday’s clash with Ireland. The African side now have a golden opportunity to secure Super 8 qualification T20 World Cup 2026. Another win would take Zimbabwe to 6 points and extend their unbeaten run in the group stage, consolidating their position in the tournament.
Ireland, meanwhile, approach the competition after a comfortable win over Oman – ultimately restoring some confidence after earlier setbacks. The European side lost their first two matches against hosts Sri Lanka and Australia, limiting their chances of advancing. Despite having less at stake, Ireland will be keen to end their campaign on a positive note and test Zimbabwe’s pace.
IRE vs ZIM, T20 World Cup 2026: Match details
- Date and Time: February 17 (Tuesday); 15:00 IST / 9:30 GMT
- Location: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele
IRE vs ZIM Head to Head Record in T20Is
Matches played: 18 | Ireland won: 8 | Zimbabwe Won: 8 | No Result/Closes: 2
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
The pitch at Pallekele usually offers a great start for batsmen. It has a solid base and true bounce that allows batsmen to trust the surface and play their shots freely on power plays and early overs. The ball comes into the bat nicely, helping teams score quickly and build early momentum without taking too many risks.
However, the character of the surface changes as the game progresses. The pitch starts to slow down and feel a little tacky, which makes timing difficult for the batters. That’s when bowlers, especially spinners and those who rely on cutters and variations, come into play. Changes of pace are more effective and scoring runs requires more patience and smart shot selection than pure aggression.
Groups
Ireland: Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (c & wk), Curtis Campher, Benjamin Calitz, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Matthew Humphreys, Tim Tector, Joshua Little, Benjamin White, Craig Young, Sam Topping
Zimbabwe: Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), Ryan Burl, Sikandar Raza (c), Dion Myers, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Wellington Masakadza, Graeme Cremer, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Ben Curran, Clive Madandeposa, Tinotene
Also READ: Shoaib Akhtar slams PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi after India bulldoze Pakistan in T20 World Cup 2026
IRE vs ZIM, T20 World Cup 2026: Today’s Match Prediction
Case 1:
- Ireland take first in the toss
- Ireland powerplay score: 40-50 (6 overs)
- Ireland’s total score: 160-170
Case 2:
- Zimbabwe go first in the toss
- Zimbabwe powerplay score: 45-55 (6 overs)
- Zimbabwe’s total score: 165-175
Match Result: The team to bat first to win the match.
Also READ: Mayanti Langer, Laura McGoldrick to Grace Hayden: Complete List of Hosts for T20 World Cup 2026
