🏏ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 M38: SL vs ZIM at Colombo🏏

🏏ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 M38: SL vs ZIM at Colombo🏏

On the face of it, there is nothing riding on this contest in terms of qualification scenarios with the Super Eights draw locked in. Yet, with both Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe staying unbeaten so far, this is perhaps the perfect opportunity for their paths to collide before the Super Eights swing by.

One of these two teams did not make it that far in the 2024 edition while the other did not qualify for the event altogether. In lieu of that, this campaign is an improvement already for both units. Yet, as Sikandar Raza said after the washout against Ireland, Zimbabwe aren't going to be satisfied with a Super Eights finish alone.

Having famously booked an early ticket home for the mighty Australians, Zimbabwe will look to do more of the same in the next round once they reach India. On the back of two impressive wins with their players stepping up across departments, a third against the co-hosts prior to the Super Eights would do their confidence a world of good, while also seeing them finish on top of Group B.

It will be far easier said than done against a rampant Sri Lankan outfit, who arrive fresh off one of their more comprehensive victories in the last decade in T20 World Cups. Pathum Nissanka produced arguably the knock of the tournament, Kusal Mendis has been in irrepressible form, while Pavan Rathnayake has proved to be a surprise package at 4.

That said, Sri Lanka have had to grapple with injuries, the latest casualty being Matheesha Pathirana, who has been ruled out of the tournament. Having already lost Wanindu Hasaranga earlier, the co-hosts will hope that there are no further mishaps as they look to roll along with a solid head of steam and aim to contest the big games.

When: Match 38, Thursday, February 19 at 3:00 PM local time

Where: R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

What to expect: For a ground historically known to favor spin, the wicket-split between spinners and pacers so far in the tournament has been fairly even (31-26). The venue has offered the least drift for spinners although it ranks fourth among the World Cup venues as far as the average turn goes. Given this is a 3 PM start that eliminates the factor of dew, spin may just have a more prominent role to play. There is a thunderstorm on the radar too, which could impact the game.

Team News

Sri Lanka

Dilshan Madushanka has been drafted in as Pathirana's replacement, although Pramod Madushan, the other spare fast-bowler in the squad, could start in the XI. As much as there could be a temptation to give Charith Asalanka or Janith Liyanage a game, expect Sri Lanka to resist that and stick with their winning combination ahead of the Super Eights.

Probable XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Dasun Shanaka (c), Kamindu Mendis, Dunith Wellalage, Dushan Hemantha, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Pramod Madushan

Zimbabwe

From their last completed game against Australia, Zimbabwe ought to bring Richard Ngarava back into the XI, with the left-arm seamer rested for that outing as a precautionary measure. Leggie Graeme Cremer could miss out, although the possibility of resting Blessing Muzarabani cannot be ruled out either, should Zimbabwe want an additional spinner.

Probable XI: Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza (c), Ryan Burl, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani

Big picture

There's a party at Khettarama and everyone's invited. Both Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe have already secured their places in the Super Eight, which means that their final Group B clash on Thursday at the R Premadasa Stadium has now become a joyous victory lap for two passionate fanbases.

Sri Lanka enters with a perfect 3-0 record, having dismantled Australia by eight wickets last time out. The result and those preceding it have energised a dormant fanbase, one that had been rather jaded given the poor run of form leading up to the tournament. Now, though, the expectations are such that the brassy rhythms of the Papare bands will be in full flow, particularly with this game having no real jeopardy attached to it.

Across the aisle, the Castle Corner faithful too have every reason to sing and indeed feel some kinship with their Sri Lankan brethren. Zimbabwe's journey has some distinct parallels with Sri Lanka's. For one, they both arrived at the tournament on a rotten stretch of form, but then both sides managed dominant wins over Australia to fuel their growing expectations.

And while their qualification was mathematically sealed only after an anti-climactic washout against Ireland, their fans, famed for their soulful choral harmonies and rhythmic "war cries" will no doubt be looking to match the local Papare beat for beat in Colombo.

But on the matters of actual on-pitch action, Sri Lanka hold a comprehensive 8-3 win-loss record over Zimbabwe in T20Is, but two of those losses have come in the past year, and on both occasions Sri Lanka were skittled out for less than 100. Momentum too will matter with both sides wanting to head to the Super Eights on a roll.

In the spotlight

In September, Kusal Perera charged Varun Chakravarthy and missed. He was out stumped for a 32-ball 58, but his knock, chasing 203, helped Sri Lanka take the match into the Super Over. Since then, his scores read 4, 25, 6, 1, 1. His five scores prior to that knock? 15, 16, 28, 20, 9. If the innings against India - or even his 46-ball 101 against New Zealand a little over a year ago - showcased Perera's ceiling, his scores surrounding such innings highlight the underwhelming reality. He was a late call-up to Sri Lanka's World Cup squad, and against Australia, he was picked ahead of Kamil Mishara, who too was going through a lean period. Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis have run riot this World Cup, but heading into the Super Eight, it's an on-song Perera Sri Lanka will be desperate to see materialise.

Whatever successes Zimbabwe have had over the past two years have largely been down to Sikandar Raza and Brian Bennett. But midway through 2024, trust was placed in Dion Myersto navigate that pivotal No. 3 position. His 14 innings in that position, however, have brought only 256 runs at an average of 19.69. Zimbabwe are already in the midst of their deepest run in a T20 World Cup, but if they want to make it an even more historic one, Myers' contributions will be a crucial point of difference.

Team news

With Matheesha Pathirana ruled out, Sri Lanka will most likely play the only back-up seamer in their squad: Pramod Madushan. Dilshan Madushanka has since been called up as a replacement, which could also see Dushmantha Chameera get a rest.

Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kusal Perera, 3 Kusal Mendis (wk), Pavan Rathnayake, 5 Dasun Shanaka (capt), 6 Kamindu Mendis, 7 Dunith Wellalage, 8 Dushan Hemantha, 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Pramod Madushan, 11 Dushmantha Chameera/Dilshan Madushanka

Zimbabwe are likely to go with their tried-and-tested XI, with Richard Ngarava also potentially back in the side after missing out against Australia as a precaution.

Zimbabwe (probable): 1 Brian Bennett, 2 Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), 3 Dion Myers, 4 Sikandar Raza (capt), 5 Ryan Burl, 6 Tashinga Musekiwa, 7 Brad Evans, 8 Wellington Masakadza, 9 Graeme Cremer, 10 Blessing Muzarabani, 11 Richard Ngarava

Pitch and conditions

From chasing down 180-plus in Pallekele, Sri Lanka will have to temper expectations surrounding their batting as the action returns to the Khettarama in Colombo, where conditions are expected to be more on the tacky side. Australia's 182 against Ireland is the top score at the venue in this World Cup, and you would have to go back to 2018 to find a bigger score. Some rain is expected during the day, but it will hopefully clear up by the evening.

Stats and trivia

• A win on Thursday will mark just the second time Sri Lanka have won four T20Is in a row since the 2022 Asia Cup.
• Ryan Burl is on 1920 T20I runs, just 80 runs shy of becoming the second Zimbabwe player after Sikandar Raza to reach 2000 runs.
• Since the end of the 2024 T20 World Cup, Bennet's 1481 runs at a strike rate of 145.19 are the most in T20Is among batters from Full Members, followed by Abhishek Sharma (1297 at 193.29) and Pathum Nissanka (1293 at 142.71).