Eman 
ZeeaK 
The inaugural Pakistan T20I Tri-Series 2025 moves into its second fixture today as Sri Lanka prepares to kick off its campaign against a Zimbabwe side that already tasted competitive action against the hosts. The match is scheduled for Thursday, November 20, at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
The Context: Seeking Early Momentum
- Sri Lanka: Led by Dasun Shanaka (in the absence of Charith Asalanka due to illness), Sri Lanka enters the series looking to quickly rebound from a disappointing conclusion to their recent Asia Cup campaign. They must secure a victory to establish early footing in the three-team tournament.
- Zimbabwe: The Chevrons arrive with momentum, despite a narrow five-wicket defeat to Pakistan in the series opener. Their ability to push the hosts close while defending a small total of 147 demonstrated great fighting spirit. They will aim to translate that resilience into a crucial win today.
Venue and Pitch Analysis
The Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium surface is consistently expected to favor the batsmen, setting the stage for a high-scoring contest.
- Batting Friendly: Recent matches suggest minimal assistance for the spinners, demanding disciplined bowling plans.
- Pace Advantage: Fast bowlers, however, can find some movement and bounce off the deck early on, offering a small window for disruption before the pitch fully flattens out. Bowlers from both sides will need clever variations to contain the run flow.
Head-to-Head History
The historical T20I record heavily favors the island nation:
- Total Matches Played: 9
- Won by Sri Lanka: 7
- Won by Zimbabwe: 2
While Sri Lanka holds the clear historical advantage, Zimbabwe’s recent competitive performances suggest they are prepared to challenge the status quo.
Key Players to Watch
- Sri Lanka’s Probable Best Batter: Pathum Nissanka The in-form opening batsman has been a reliable source of quick runs in T20s, highlighted by a magnificent century in the recent Asia Cup. Nissanka’s ability to seize the initiative in the PowerPlay will be vital on this flat track.
- Sri Lanka’s Probable Best Bowler: Nuwan Thushara The right-arm pacer, known for his unique slingy action (often compared to Lasith Malinga), possesses a rare skill: the ability to execute deadly, skiddy yorkers. Though his previous tournament form was inconsistent, Thushara’s death-bowling precision will be crucial in containing runs during the likely high-scoring final overs.
- Zimbabwe’s Star: The captain and all-rounder Sikandar Raza will be the central figure, needing to fire with both bat and ball to secure Zimbabwe’s first points.
Predicted Starting XIs
| Sri Lanka (Predicted XI) | Zimbabwe (Predicted XI) |
| Pathum Nissanka | Brian Bennett |
| Kusal Perera | Dion Myers |
| Kusal Mendis (wk) | Brendan Taylor (wk) |
| Bhanuka Rajapaksa | Sikandar Raza (c) |
| Janith Liyanage | Ryan Burl |
| Kamindu Mendis | Tashinga Musekiwa |
| Dasun Shanaka (c) | Clive Madande |
| Maheesh Theekshana | Brad Evans |
| Dushmantha Chameera | Graeme Cremer |
| Nuwan Thushara | Wellington Masakadza |
| Vijayakanth Viyaskanth | Richard Ngarava |
This match promises an exciting blend of Sri Lanka’s technical batting class against Zimbabwe’s fighting spirit and all-rounders.
IMAGE CREDITS : CRICTRACKER
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