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The Pakistan T20I Tri-Series 2025 delivers its most pivotal fixture yet as Sri Lanka takes on Zimbabwe in a high-pressure contest at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, November 25. For Sri Lanka, this is a virtual knockout match to prevent early elimination, while a win for Zimbabwe would instantly launch them into the tournament final against Pakistan.
The match is scheduled to begin at 6:00 PM Local Time (PST) / 1:00 PM GMT.
Series Standings and Context
Sri Lanka’s Situation: The island nation finds itself in a challenging position, having lost both of its previous matches, including a significant defeat to Zimbabwe earlier in the series. They must win this fixture to secure points and remain mathematically in contention for a place in the championship match.
Zimbabwe’s Confidence: Sikandar Raza’s side arrives with significant momentum, having already beaten Sri Lanka convincingly. They are just one step away from achieving a place in the championship match, relying on the form of their star batsmen and effective bowling strategy.
Venue and Conditions: The Batting Advantage
The surface at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium has been known to be largely batting-friendly throughout the series, though conditions have varied from match to match.
- Pitch Expectation: The track is expected to be flat, encouraging free stroke play. While conditions have largely been favorable for scoring, the spin bowlers have shown a slight edge over fast bowlers in terms of effectiveness per wicket ($25.4$ average compared to $26.5$).
- Strategy: Historical data from this venue shows that the team that bats first has enjoyed a slight advantage (winning 56% of games).
Key Player Battles and Form Watch
| Sri Lanka Players to Watch | Zimbabwe Players to Watch |
| Pathum Nissanka: The opening batsman is crucial for providing a stable, high-scoring foundation, especially on a flat pitch. | Sikandar Raza (C): The pivotal all-rounder whose scoring rate (strike rate $140.54$ this series) and key wickets will define Zimbabwe’s performance. |
| Wanindu Hasaranga: The leg-spinner remains vital for middle-over control, averaging just $19.53$ per wicket this year. | Brian Bennett: The young star has been responsible for the bulk of Zimbabwe’s top-order runs this series (107 runs), proving his ability to accelerate quickly. |
| Dushmantha Chameera & Nuwan Thushara: The pace duo must find early breakthroughs to expose Zimbabwe’s middle order. | Brad Evans & Richard Ngarava: The pace duo has been highly effective in T20s this year, providing the critical new-ball threat. |
Predicted Starting XIs
Both teams are expected to field their strongest possible lineups for this must-win clash, with the core structure remaining largely unchanged. Dasun Shanaka leads the Lankans, while Sikandar Raza captains the Chevrons.
This match is poised to be an enthralling contest where one team will book a final date, and the other will exit the series.
Image Credits : CricketWorld
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