SL vs ZIM Match Preview – The excitement of the Pakistan T20I Tri-Series 2025 continues as Sri Lanka takes on Zimbabwe at the iconic Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday, November 25. With the tournament being played on neutral turf for both sides, this encounter promises to be a fascinating tactical battle.
Sri Lanka enters the contest as the favorites, boasting a squad rich in spin talent and explosive batting options suitable for sub-continent conditions. Zimbabwe, led by the talismanic Sikandar Raza, will be looking to cause an upset. The inclusion of veteran names in the Zimbabwean squad adds a layer of experience that could prove vital in high-pressure situations.
SL vs ZIM Match Details
| Feature | Details |
| Match | Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe, T20I Tri-Series Match |
| Series | Pakistan T20I Tri-Series 2025 |
| Date & Time | Tuesday, November 25, 2025, 06:30 PM |
| Venue | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| Live Telecast | FanCode |
SL vs ZIM Head-to-Head
Sri Lanka holds a dominant record over Zimbabwe in the T20 format. However, Zimbabwe has shown recently that they can punch above their weight, especially when their all-rounders fire.
| Format | Total Matches | Sri Lanka Won | Zimbabwe Won | No Result |
| T20I | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
SL vs ZIM Pitch Report: Gaddafi Stadium
The surface at the Gaddafi Stadium is renowned as a batter’s paradise. It is generally flat, offering good bounce and the ball comes onto the bat nicely, allowing for stroke-making throughout the innings.
Spin Factor: While pace dominates early on, the pitch tends to offer some grip for spinners like Wanindu Hasaranga and Sikandar Raza in the middle overs.
Dew Factor: With the match starting at 6:30 PM in late November, dew is expected to play a significant role in the second innings. This makes gripping the ball difficult for bowlers, giving the chasing team a distinct advantage.
Par Score: Anything below 175-180 will be considered below par on this surface.
SL vs ZIM Weather Report
The weather in Lahore on Tuesday evening is expected to be cool and dry, typical for late November.
Temperature: ~18°C to 20°C at the start of play, dropping slightly as the night progresses.
Sky: Clear to slightly hazy.
Rain: 0% chance of precipitation.
Conditions: The cool air might offer some swing to the new ball bowlers in the first 2-3 overs.
SL vs ZIM Probable Playing11
Based on the squads provided, both teams will look to field their strongest combinations.
Sri Lanka (SL): Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka (c), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth.
Zimbabwe (ZIM): Tadiwanashe Marumani, Brian Bennett, Brendan Taylor (wk), Sikandar Raza (c), Ryan Burl, Dion Myers, Brad Evans, Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Graeme Cremer, Blessing Muzarabani/Tinotenda Maposa.
SL vs ZIM Team Analysis & Key Battles
Sri Lanka’s Spin Web: The Lankan Lions possess a world-class spin attack with Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana. Their 8 overs will be crucial in restricting Zimbabwe’s scoring rate in the middle overs. The return of explosive hitters like Kusal Perera and Bhanuka Rajapaksa bolsters their batting significantly.
Zimbabwe’s Experience: Zimbabwe will rely heavily on their captain, Sikandar Raza, who is a match-winner with both bat and ball. The presence of experienced campaigners like Brendan Taylor (as listed in the squad) provides stability to the top order. Richard Ngarava will be key with the new ball to try and dislodge the Sri Lankan openers early.
SL vs ZIM Match Prediction
While Zimbabwe is a spirited side capable of brilliance, Sri Lanka’s squad depth and their superior familiarity with sub-continent conditions give them the upper hand. The combination of Hasaranga’s wicket-taking ability and a deep batting lineup makes Sri Lanka the team to beat.
However, if Zimbabwe wins the toss and bowls first, the dew factor could help them push the match close.
Prediction: Sri Lanka to win.
