SL vs ZIM Match Preview – The Pakistan T20I Tri-Series 2025 heats up this Tuesday evening as Sri Lanka locks horns with Zimbabwe at the iconic Gaddafi Stadium. With the tournament progressing, both teams are eager to secure valuable points. Sri Lanka enters the contest as the favorites, boasting a squad rich in spin talent and explosive batting, while Zimbabwe, led by the seasoned Sikandar Raza, will be looking to cause an upset and assert their presence in the series.
For Sri Lanka, the return of key spinners and the aggressive top order makes them a formidable unit in Asian conditions. Zimbabwe, however, has a knack for fighting hard, and with the inclusion of veteran names in their squad like Brendan Taylor and Graeme Cremer alongside young talent, they possess the experience to challenge the Islanders.
SL vs ZIM Match Details
| Match | Sri Lanka (SL) vs Zimbabwe (ZIM), T20I Match |
| Series | Pakistan T20I Tri-Series 2025 |
| Date | Tuesday, November 25, 2025 |
| Time | 06:30 PM IST / 06:00 PM Local |
| Venue | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| Live Telecast | FanCode |
SL vs ZIM Head-to-Head
Sri Lanka has historically dominated Zimbabwe in the T20I format. However, Zimbabwe has shown improvement in recent years, often pushing top-tier teams close.
Total Matches Played: 6
Sri Lanka Won: 5
Zimbabwe Won: 1
SL vs ZIM Pitch Report: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
The surface at the Gaddafi Stadium is renowned as a batter’s paradise. It is flat, hard, and offers true bounce, allowing stroke-makers to hit through the line with confidence.
Batting First: Teams usually target a score of 180+ to feel safe.
Spin Factor: While generally flat, the pitch does offer some assistance to spinners in the middle overs, which suits both teams given their squad compositions.
Dew Factor: Since this is a November evening match in Lahore, heavy dew is expected in the second innings. This will make gripping the ball difficult for bowlers, giving a significant advantage to the chasing side. Winning the toss and bowling first is the likely strategy.
SL vs ZIM Weather Report
The weather in Lahore on Tuesday evening will be cool and clear, typical of the winter onset in Punjab.
Condition: Clear skies, no chance of rain.
Temperature: Around 16°C to 18°C during match hours.
Humidity: High (contributing to the dew factor).
SL vs ZIM Probable Playing11
Both teams have interesting mixes of youth and experience based on the provided squads.
Sri Lanka (SL):
Sri Lanka’s batting looks deep with Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka at the top. The spin duo of Hasaranga and Theekshana will be their biggest weapon.
Pathum Nissanka
Kusal Mendis (wk)
Kusal Perera
Kamindu Mendis
Bhanuka Rajapaksa
Dasun Shanaka (c)
Wanindu Hasaranga
Maheesh Theekshana
Dushmantha Chameera
Nuwan Thushara
Vijayakanth Viyaskanth
Zimbabwe (ZIM):
Zimbabwe will rely heavily on their captain Sikandar Raza and the experience of Brendan Taylor to anchor the innings.
Brian Bennett
Tadiwanashe Marumani
Brendan Taylor (wk)
Sikandar Raza (c)
Ryan Burl
Clive Madande
Brad Evans
Wellington Masakadza
Graeme Cremer
Richard Ngarava
Tinotenda Maposa
SL vs ZIM Match Prediction
Sri Lanka holds the upper hand going into this fixture. Their bowling attack, specifically the spin department led by Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, is tailor-made for subcontinental conditions, even with the dew factor. Sri Lanka’s top order also possesses more firepower and consistency compared to their counterparts.
Zimbabwe has the potential to surprise, particularly if Sikandar Raza fires with both bat and ball, or if Richard Ngarava gets early breakthroughs. However, the depth of the Sri Lankan squad likely gives them the edge.
Prediction: Sri Lanka to win.
