Sri Lanka Win Toss, Elect to Bat Against Zimbabwe

News Desk

Islamabad: Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat first against Zimbabwe in the second match of the T20I tri-series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

The game marks Sri Lanka’s opening appearance in the tournament, while Zimbabwe, led by Sikandar Raza, are aiming to bounce back after losing their first match to hosts Pakistan on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka have fielded a strong XI for their series debut, with Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, and Bhanuka Rajapaksa forming the top order. Dasun Shanaka captains the side, supported by key all-rounders Kamindu Mendis and Wanindu Hasaranga, along with pacers Dushmantha Chameera and Nuwan Thushara.

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Zimbabwe’s lineup features Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani at the top, wicketkeeper Brendan Taylor, and all-rounder Ryan Burl. Captain Sikandar Raza anchors the middle order, with support from Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, and the spin duo of Tinotenda Maposa and Graeme Cremer. Richard Ngarava leads the pace attack.

The match is expected to set the tone for Sri Lanka’s campaign as the tri-series gathers momentum in Rawalpindi.

Over 5,500 Police Deployed as Rawalpindi Tightens Security for T20 Tri-Series

The Rawalpindi Police on Wednesday strengthened security and traffic arrangements around the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium for the ongoing T20 Tri-Series, featuring Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe. Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe were scheduled to face each other in a key fixture.

Acting on the instructions of City Police Officer (CPO) Syed Khalid Hamdani, more than 5,500 police officers were deployed in and around the stadium, while over 350 traffic personnel managed vehicular flow to prevent congestion.

Senior officers remained on-site to inspect deployments and brief the force. Snipers were positioned on rooftops, and a dedicated control room was established to monitor the area via CCTV cameras.

Patrol units from local police stations, along with Elite and Dolphin squads, conducted regular rounds in the stadium’s vicinity to ensure public safety.

CPO Hamdani said the police were committed to providing comprehensive security and traffic management for the Tri-Series, which has been underway for nearly a month.