Ireland will face Zimbabwe in match number 32 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele on Tuesday, 17 February. The Lorcan Tucker-led side will look to continue their winning momentum and keep their qualification hopes alive in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
After losses to Sri Lanka and Australia, Ireland achieved a huge 96-run win against Oman. Zimbabwe has been the “giant-killer” of the tournament. They stunned Australia in their recent match, and a win in the upcoming game will definitely punch their ticket to the Super 8.
This article covers IRE vs ZIM Match 32 with details of match preview, live streaming options, pitch and weather conditions, head-to-head statistics and key records.
IRE vs ZIM Match Prediction: Who will win match number 32?
matching details
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Match: Ireland vs Zimbabwe, Match 32
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Date: February 17, 2026
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Time: 3:00 PM IST
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Venue: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele
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Live Streaming: JioHotstar
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Live telecast: Star Sports Network
IRE vs ZIM Match Prediction, Head-to-Head Record
Ireland and Zimbabwe have faced each other 18 times in T20 International. Both the teams have won eight each, while two matches did not yield any result. Their head-to-head record in the T20 World Cup is 1-1. In T20 World Cup 2022, Zimbabwe won by 31 runs.
Pitch Report and Terms
The surface at Pallekele generally favors the batsmen. However, this track offers enough “zip” to cause trouble early on for fast bowlers like Blessing Muzarabani and Joshua Little. The spinners usually get some grip as the match progresses.
IRE vs ZIM Weather Report
It is predicted to be rainy and cloudy in Pallekele during the match hours, with the chance of precipitation at the start of the game being around 65%. The temperature will hover around 23°C and there is a high possibility of rain disrupting games or minor competitions.
IRE vs ZIM Match Prediction: Probable XI
Ireland Playing XI: Ross Adair, Tim Tector, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk/c), Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Matthew Humphreys, Joshua Little.
Zimbabwe Playing XI: Brian Bennett, Tadivanashe Marumani (wk), Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza (captain), Ryan Burl, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Wellington Masakadza, Graeme Cremer, Blessing Muzarabani.
toss effect
The toss will be important given the strong possibility of rain. The captain who wins the toss is likely to bowl first to gain the advantage of chasing the revised DLS target. In particular, cloudy conditions can provide lateral movement for new ball specialists.
form and fitness
Ireland’s confidence is high after Lorcan Tucker’s unbeaten inning of 94 runs. With Blessing Muzarabani in deadly form after taking four wickets against Australia, Zimbabwe are at full strength.
score prediction
If a full 20 overs game is possible, a score between 175-190 would be competitive. However, on this batting-friendly deck, Ireland have shown that they can go past 200 if their top order gets going.
IRE vs ZIM: Players’ Performance Predictions
Ireland: Lorcan Tucker, Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Joshua Little, Mark Adair.
Zimbabwe: Sikandar Raza, Brian Bennett, Blessing Muzarabani, Ryan Burl, Brad Evans.
best batsman prediction
Who will score the most runs for Ireland? Lorcan Tucker or Ross Adair
Who will score the most runs for Zimbabwe? Sikandar Raza or Brian Bennett
best bowler prediction
Who will take the most wickets for Ireland? Joshua Little or Mark Adair
Who will take the most wickets for Zimbabwe? Blessings to Muzarabani or Brad Evans
Conclusion: Who will win the IRE vs ZIM match?
Zimbabwe will enter the match as slight favorites due to their balanced bowling attack. Ireland’s batting regained form in the last game, allowing them to remain competitive. Given the possibility of rain, the team batting first will have to plan carefully.
Also read: Usman Tariq, Abrar Ahmed and Shivam Dubey will destroy the spin threat of Pakistan in the IND vs PAK match! here’s why
