Lorcan Tucker-led Ireland will face Sikandar Raza-captained Zimbabwe in their final group-stage match of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2026. The match between Ireland and Zimbabwe is scheduled to take place at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele on Tuesday, February 17.
Ireland will be desperate to finish on a high note after a poor start to their campaign. Before achieving victory over Oman, they had to face defeats against Sri Lanka and Australia. Zimbabwe, on the other hand, are brimming with confidence after an impressive performance including a win over former World Cup champions Australia.
This article covers IRE vs ZIM Match 32, including match preview, live streaming details, pitch and weather conditions, head-to-head statistics and key records.
IRE vs ZIM Match 32 Preview:
Date and Venue: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele will host the Group B encounter between Ireland and Zimbabwe on Tuesday, February 17.
Squad:
Zimbabwe: Brian Bennett, Tadivanashe Marumani, Dion Myers, Ben Curran, Sikandar Raza (captain), Ryan Burl, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarawa, Blessing Muzarabani, Tony Munyonga, Clive Madande, Tinotenda Maphosa, Graeme Cremer.
Ireland: Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (c/wk), Curtis Campher, Benjamin Callitz, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Matthew Humphries, Tim Tector, Joshua Little, Benjamin White, Craig Young, Sam Topping.
IRE vs ZIM Probable Playing XI
Barring any last-minute fitness concerns, both teams are likely to stick to their winning combinations. Lorcan Tucker is leading the side in the absence of Paul Sterling, who has been ruled out of the tournament with a knee injury.
Ireland Probable XI: Ross Adair, Tim Tector, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (c/wk), Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Matthew Humphreys, Joshua Little.
Zimbabwe probable XI: Brian Bennett, Tadivanashe Marumani(w), Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza(c), Ryan Burl, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Wellington Masakadza, Graeme Cremer, Blessing Muzarabani.
IRE vs ZIM: key battles
Lorcan Tucker vs. Blessing Muzarabani
Irish captain Lorcan Tucker, who played a match-winning inning of 94 runs in 51 balls against Oman, is the biggest threat in the middle order. Blessing Muzarabani demolished Australia with a sensational spell of 4-17.
Ross Adair vs Brad Evans
Ross Adair can provide firepower at the top of the order. Brad Evans has been a wicket-taking machine in the powerplay and recently took figures of 3-23 against Australia. If Evans can get the ball back early, Ireland could find themselves in trouble.
Brian Bennett vs Mark Adair
Brian Bennett laid the foundation of victory over Australia by scoring unbeaten 64 runs. Ireland will be reliant on Mark Adair to find the early movement and disrupt Bennett’s rhythm. This match between an aggressive opening batsman and an experienced swing bowler can set the tone for the first six overs.
IRE vs ZIM Key Players:
Ireland: Lorcan Tucker, Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Joshua Little, Matthew Humphries
Zimbabwe: Sikandar Raza, Blessing Muzarabani, Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Brad Evans
IRE vs ZIM Free Live Streaming, Live Telecast in India
TV rights in India: The IRE vs ZIM match will be shown live on Star Sports Network, the official broadcaster of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India.
Live Streaming Platforms in India: Fans can watch the match online through JioHotstar app and website.
When will the match happen? The Group B match is scheduled for Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
Where will the match be played? This match will be held at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele.
How to watch live telecast of IRE vs ZIM match on television? Viewers can watch Star Sports channel to watch the match live on TV.
How to live stream the match between Ireland and Zimbabwe online on mobile? The match can be live streamed on JioHotstar app or website.
IRE vs ZIM Match 32 Weather Report, Pallekele Stadium Pitch Report
Pallekele’s IRE vs ZIM weather report:
The weather in Pallekele on Tuesday, 17 February is not looking promising for a full game. Rain is expected around the start of the game, with temperatures hovering around 23 degrees Celsius. Conditions are expected to improve slightly by evening, with light rain and the temperature dropping to 21 degrees Celsius.
IRE vs ZIM Pitch Report from Pallekele:
The surface of the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium generally sees a fair competition between bat and ball. However, heavy cloud cover is expected to provide considerable assistance to the fast bowlers. The captain who wins the toss is likely to bowl first to make the most of the cloudy conditions.
IRE vs ZIM head-to-head records:
| statistics | Matchbox | ire won | zim won | N.R. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| overall | 18 | 8 | 8 | 2 |
| In T20 World Cup | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| last 5 t20i | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
IRE vs. ZIM Head-to-Head Records: Key Statistics
The rivalry between Ireland and Zimbabwe in international cricket is balanced, with both sides winning eight matches each in 18 encounters. The record in the T20 World Cup is also equal to 1-1. Zimbabwe won the T20 World Cup 2022, while Ireland claimed victory in the 2014 edition.
IRE vs ZIM Head-to-Head Records: Last Five Matches
The weather has had a significant impact on recent fixtures, with two of the last three matches in Harare resulting in no results. Zimbabwe won the most recent completed match, while Ireland won two T20I matches in December 2023.
IRE vs ZIM Head-to-Head Records – Results of last 5 matches:
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No result in Harare on 25 February 2025
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Zimbabwe won by 3 wickets in Harare on 23 February 2025
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No result in Harare on February 22, 2025
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Ireland won by 6 wickets in Harare on 10 December 2023
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Ireland won by 4 wickets at Harare on December 9, 2023
conclusion:
Given current form, Zimbabwe will start as slight favourites. African countries have balanced bowling attacks to suit the conditions, but Ireland can be dangerous. With the possibility of rain interfering, the team that adapts to shorter formats or DLS targets better is likely to register a win.
Also read: IND vs PAK: Even after retirement, why will Rohit Sharma trouble Pakistan in T20 World Cup 2026?
