Ireland, led by Lorcan Tucker, will face Zimbabwe, led by Sikandar Raza, 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 rocky start to their campaign. They suffered defeats to Sri Lanka and Australia before securing victory over Oman. Zimbabwe, on the other hand, are high on confidence after dominant performances, including a win over the former World Cup champions, Australia.
This article covers the IRE vs ZIM Match 32, including the match preview, live streaming details, pitch and weather conditions, head-to-head statistics, and key records.
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IRE vs ZIM Match 32 Preview:
Date and Venue: The Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele will host the Group B encounter between Ireland and Zimbabwe on Tuesday, February 17.
Squads:
Zimbabwe: Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Dion Myers, Ben Curran, Sikandar Raza (c), Ryan Burl, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Tony Munyonga, Clive Madande, Tinotenda Maposa, Graeme Cremer.
Ireland: Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (c/w), Curtis Campher, Benjamin Calitz, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Matthew Humphreys, Tim Tector, Joshua Little, Benjamin White, Craig Young, Sam Topping.
IRE vs ZIM Probable Playing XIs
Both teams are likely to stick to their winning combinations, bar any last-minute fitness concerns. Lorcan Tucker continues to lead the side in the absence of Paul Stirling, who has been ruled out of the tournament with a knee injury.
Ireland Probable XI: Ross Adair, Tim Tector, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (c/w), Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Matthew Humphreys, Joshua Little.
Zimbabwe Probable XI: Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe 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 skipper Lorcan Tucker, who scored a match-winning 94 off 51 balls against Oman, is the biggest threat in the middle order. Blessing Muzarabani dismantled Australia with a sensational 4-17 spell.
Ross Adair vs Brad Evans
Ross Adair can provide the firepower at the top of the order. Brad Evans has been a wicket-taking machine in the powerplay and recently picked up figures of 3-23 against Australia. If Evans can nip the ball back early, Ireland could find themselves in trouble.
Brian Bennett vs Mark Adair
Brian Bennett scored an unbeaten 64 to anchor the win over Australia. Ireland will rely on Mark Adair to find early movement and disrupt Bennett’s rhythm. This contest between the aggressive opener and the experienced swing bowler could set the tone for the first six overs.
IRE vs ZIM Key Players:
Ireland: Lorcan Tucker, Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Joshua Little, Matthew Humphreys
Zimbabwe: Sikandar Raza, Blessing Muzarabani, Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Brad Evans
IRE vs ZIM Free Live Streaming in India, Live Telecast
TV Rights in India: The IRE vs ZIM match will be shown live on the Star Sports Network, which is the official broadcaster of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India
Live Streaming Platform in India: Fans can follow the match online through the JioHotstar app and website.
When will the match take place? The Group B fixture is scheduled for Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
Where will the match be played? The encounter will be held at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele.
How to watch the live telecast of the IRE vs ZIM match on television? Viewers can tune in to Star Sports channels to watch the match live on TV.
How to live stream the match between Ireland and Zimbabwe on mobile online? The match can be streamed live on the JioHotstar app or website.
IRE vs ZIM Match 32 Weather Report, Pitch Report of Pallekele Stadium
IRE vs ZIM Weather Report of Pallekele:
The weather in Pallekele on Tuesday, February 17, does not look promising for a full game. Rain is forecast around the start of play, with temperatures around 23°C. Conditions are expected to improve slightly by the evening, with light rain and temperatures dropping to 21°C.
IRE vs ZIM Pitch Report of Pallekele:
The surface at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium generally offers a fair contest between bat and ball. However, with significant cloud cover, the pacers are expected to get plenty of assistance. The captain winning the toss is likely to bowl first to make the most of the overcast conditions.
IRE vs ZIM Head-to-Head Records:
| Stats | Matches | IRE Won | ZIM Won | NR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 18 | 8 | 8 | 2 |
| In T20 World Cups | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Last 5 T20Is | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
IRE vs ZIM Head-to-Head Records: Key Statistics
The rivalry between Ireland and Zimbabwe is balanced in international cricket, with both sides winning eight matches each in 18 encounters. In T20 World Cups, the record is also level at 1-1. Zimbabwe secured a victory in the T20 World Cup 2022, while Ireland claimed a win in the 2014 edition.
IRE vs ZIM Head-to-Head Records: Last Five Matches
Recent encounters have been heavily impacted by weather, with two of the last three games in Harare ending in no result. Zimbabwe won the most recent completed fixture, while Ireland won two T20I matches in December 2023.
IRE vs ZIM Head-to-Head Records – Result of the last 5 games:
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No Result in Harare on February 25, 2025
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Zimbabwe won by 3 wickets in Harare on February 23, 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 December 10, 2023
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Ireland won by 4 wickets in Harare on December 9, 2023
Conclusion:
Given the current form, Zimbabwe will start as slight favourites. The African nation have a balanced bowling attack suited to the conditions, but Ireland can be dangerous. With rain likely to intervene, the team that adapts better to shortened formats or DLS targets is likely to record a win.
Also read: IND vs PAK: Why Rohit Sharma will haunt Pakistan at T20 World Cup 2026, even after retirement
