ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
Match Details
Match: Ireland vs Zimbabwe – Group B
Date: 17 February 2026
Day: Tuesday
Venue: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele
Time: 03:00 PM (Local) / 03:00 PM IST
Live Telecast & Streaming
Live Telecast: Star Sports Network
Live Streaming: JioHotstar
Probable Playing XI
Ireland Probable XI
Tim Tector (replace Paul Sterling), Ross Adair, Lorcan Tucker (c & wk), Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Mark Adair, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Ben White
Zimbabwe Probable XI
Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), Brian Bennett, Sikandar Raza (c), Dion Myers, Ryan Burl, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Blessing Muzarabani, Wellington Masakadza, Graeme Cremer
Pitch Report
The Pallekele surface generally provides a balanced contest between bat and ball. Fast bowlers can extract early bounce and movement with the new ball, while spinners tend to play an important role as the pitch slows down in the middle overs. Batters who settle at the crease can score freely later in the innings. A first-innings total around 165–175 is considered competitive at this venue.
Weather Report
Pallekele is expected to witness warm and slightly humid conditions with temperatures around 26–29°C. Rain interruptions are unlikely, so a full match is expected.
Match Prediction
Both teams remain in contention for qualification, making this clash extremely crucial. Zimbabwe has shown strong recent form and possesses impactful all-rounders, while Ireland relies heavily on its experienced top order and disciplined bowling attack. Considering recent performances and match momentum, Zimbabwe holds a slight edge, though the contest is expected to be closely fought.
Key Players
Ireland
Lorcan Tucker: In-form captain capable of anchoring the innings and accelerating late.
Josh Little: Strike pacer who can deliver crucial breakthroughs in powerplay and death overs.
Harry Tector: Reliable middle-order batter who stabilizes the innings under pressure.
Zimbabwe
Sikandar Raza: Match-winning all-rounder contributing with both bat and ball.
Blessing Muzarabani: Tall fast bowler capable of troubling batters with bounce and pace.
Ryan Burl: Experienced batter who provides stability in the middle order.