Last Updated on 5 months ago by Charbel Coorey

Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe go head-to-head in the 2nd match of the 2025 Pakistan T20 Tri-Series.

Sri Lanka, led by Dasun Shanaka, are aiming for the perfect start to this tri-series as they gear up for next year’s T20 World Cup. The Lions showed promising signs in the first round of the Asia Cup earlier in 2025, but fell away when it mattered most in the Super Four stage. They bat deep and have a good group of spinners, and they will want that to work in their favour today.

If you go by the scoreboard alone, you would think Pakistan smashed Zimbabwe with ease on Tuesday. However, the Zimbabweans were by far the better team in both powerplays, but fell away badly, especially with the bat. Also, had Brian Bennett taken the catch with 15 needed off 10 balls, the result could have been different.

There was enough to be optimistic about from a Zimbabwean perspective, but their middle overs batting is crucial to their chances. Sri Lanka, with the likes of Wanindu Hasaranga, will look to pounce.

Pakistan T20 Tri-Series 2nd Match: SL vs ZIM Possible Playing XIs

Charith Asalanka is unavailable due to illness. Dasun Shanaka will lead. Bhanuka Rajapaksa is in the squad and could play.

Also, Wanindu Hasaranga is in doubt due to a hamstring niggle, as reported by ESPNcricinfo.

Sri Lanka: 1. Pathum Nissanka, 2. Kusal Mendis (wk), 3. Kamil Mishara, 4. Kusal Perera/Bhanuka Rajapaska, 5. Kamindu Mendis, 6. Dasun Shanaka (c), 7. Janith Liyange, 8. Wanindu Hasaranga/Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, 9. Maheesh Theekshana, 10. Dushmantha Chameera, 11. Nuwan Thushara

Zimbabwe may stick with the same team despite despite the middle order collapse earlier this week.

Zimbabwe: 1. Brian Bennett, 2. Tadiwanashe Marumani, 3. Brendan Taylor (wk), 4. Ryan Burl, 5. Sikandar Raza (c), 6. Tony Munyonga, 7. Tashinga Musekiwa, 8. Brad Evans, 9. Tinotenda Mapoda, 10. Richard Ngarava, 11. Graeme Cremer

Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium Pitch Report and Weather

The captain who wins the toss will surely field. Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium favours chasing, with teams batting second winning seven out of eight completed T20 Internationals.

In these eight T20Is, the average first innings score is 152.63 at a run rate of 7.63. Teams batting second score faster at above eight per over.

In this period, pace bowlers have taken 54 wickets at an average of 31.24 and economy of 8.30. Spinners have fared better with 34 wickets at an average of 21.95 and economy of 7.64.

Another cool and clear evening is forecast with temperatures to drop to about 10 degrees.

Fantasy Cricket Tips for SL vs ZIM T20I: Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Top wicket-keeper picks:

• Kusal Mendis is picked in over 80% of Dream11 teams as he opens the batting and can fetch fantasy points as wicket-keeper too. He will be looking to improve on his T20I record against Zimbabwe: 6 inns, 123 runs, avg. 20.50, SR 120.58, HS 38.

Key batter picks:

• Brian Bennett played beautifully for his 36-ball 49 against Pakistan two nights ago. Also, Bennett has the most runs in ZIM-SL T20Is (177) at an average of 35.40 and strike rate of 138.28.
• Pathum Nissanka is Sri Lanka’s best batter. He struck 107 (58) in his last T20I – the Asia Cup match against India.

Top all-rounder picks:

• Wanindu Hasaranga is the top captaincy option in Dream11. Hasaranga (if fit) will be key given how Zimbabwe struggled in the middle overs against Pakistan.
• Sikandar Raza has eight wickets in six T20Is against Sri Lanka (avg. 16.12, econ. 5.64). He also has 138 runs at a strike rate of 130.18.
• Brad Evans had the ball nipping around nicely in the match against Pakistan. He has dismissed Kusal Mendis once in eight balls in T20Is (10 runs) and Pathum Nissanka once in 17 balls (23 runs).

Key bowler picks:

• Nuwan Thushara will bowl in the crunch overs. The death period brings wicket-taking opportunities especially against Zimbabwe’s inexperienced middle-lower order.
• Dushmantha Chameera has the most wickets in SL-ZIM T20Is (11) including Sikandar Raza three times in 28 balls (42 runs). He takes a wicket every 12 deliveries on average against Zimbabwe.

Other Players to Consider for your Fantasy Cricket Teams

• Dasun Shanaka can chip in with overs and runs as a finisher. When Shanaka performs well, he can be a difference-maker in fantasy cricket.
• Tadiwanashe Marumani looked in good touch in the Pakistan match (30 off 22). He opens the batting and bats at a time when the ball comes on nicely.
• Kamil Mishara scored 93 runs in two T20Is against Zimbabwe earlier this year at a strike rate of 147.61. This includes a match-winning innings of 73* in the series decider.
• Brendan Taylor started promisingly against Pakistan before running himself out. He is worth a try as he bats in the top three.
• Richard Ngarava has a decent record against Sri Lanka’s openers (see below). He will be looking to improve on his strike rate of 31 in six matches vs SL.

Other Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 9, Sri Lanka 7, Zimbabwe 2.
• Sri Lanka beat Zimbabwe 2-1 in a T20I series in September. Zimbabwe bowled Sri Lanka out for 80 in the second T20I and then scored 191/8 in the third T20I. Also, Sri Lanka were in trouble chasing 176 in the first T20I, before Kamindu Mendis’ 16-ball 41 got them home with five balls to spare.
• Brian Bennett was the leading run-scorer in that three-match ZIM-SL T20I series earlier this year (113).
• Richard Ngarava vs Pathum Nissanka in T20Is: 35 balls, 47 runs, one wicket.
• Richard Ngarava vs Kusal Mendis in T20Is: 30 balls, 23 runs, one wicket.
• Wanindu Hasaranga vs Sikandar Raza in all T20s: 52 balls, 52 runs, no wickets.

SL vs ZIM 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction Today – Pakistan T20I Tri-Series 2025 2nd Match

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article, as well as your own instincts, to create your teams. 

Option 1:

Option 2:

SL vs ZIM 1st T20 Match Prediction: Who will win?

Sri Lanka will win.

Disclaimer: The fantasy cricket stats, tips and predictions provided on CricBlog are intended for informational purposes for Dream11 free contests in line with the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025. The stats and writer’s views are in place to guide fans in creating their teams. While we strive to offer accurate and insightful advice, CricBlog does not guarantee success or winnings in any fantasy contests. Users are encouraged to make their own informed decisions and play responsibly.

All statistics and matchups in this article have been verified by ESPNcricinfo and Cricmetric.