Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Lions are here. Sri Lanka touched down at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare yesterday, setting the stage for a five match limited overs battle against Zimbabwe that roars to life at Harare Sports Club this Friday.
The tourists will have just under a week to shake off jet lag, train and settle into local conditions before the first ball is bowled. This series, the first 50-over meeting between the two nations in a year, will be a mix of two ODIs and three T20Is, all hosted at the capital’s premier cricket ground.
Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has set the gates wide open for fans, announcing ticket prices that range from the affordable to the premium. For ODIs, Rest of Ground seats will cost US$3, while embankment spots are pegged at US$5. The Centurion section tops the list at US$20, with TICSA and Red Lion tickets priced at US$10 and US$15 respectively.
For T20 matches, the cheapest entry is US$5 for ROG, US$10 for the embankment, US$15 for TICSA and US$20 for Centurion. Red Lion remains at US$15.
The ODIs are set for Friday, 29 August and Sunday, 31 August. The T20Is will follow on 3, 6 and 7 September.
The visitors aren’t treating this tour lightly. Before leaving Colombo, their seamers worked under the watchful eye of legendary fast bowler Lasith Malinga. Asitha Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka and Milan Rathnayake all received final pointers from the veteran, sharpening their skills for Zimbabwe’s challenge.
The squad has a mix of familiar faces and fresh talent. Twenty two year old uncapped batter Pavan Rathnayake and 25 year old Nuwanidu Fernando headline the new look side. Fernando, who debuted in 2023, forced his way back with a string of strong performances against Australia A, including a match winning 82. Pavan also caught the selectors’ eyes with a century in the same series.
Sadeera Samarawickrama, absent from ODIs since 2024, has been recalled, while Avishka Fernando, Eshan Malinga and star all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga miss out. Hasaranga is sidelined with a hamstring injury picked up against Bangladesh last month.
Sri Lanka will also use the two T20Is as tune ups for the Asia Cup in the UAE, which begins 9 September.
Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka first met in ODI cricket back in 1992. Since then, the Lions have dominated, winning 49 of 64 matches. Zimbabwe have managed just 12 victories, with three games ending without a result.
Their most recent ODI series was in Colombo in January 2024, where Sri Lanka triumphed 2–0 after one match was washed out. In the shorter format, the Chevrons have only beaten Sri Lanka once in six meetings.
For now, Zimbabwe Cricket are yet to name their squad for the series. But with the Lions already in town, the countdown has begun.
Sri Lanka ODI Squad
Charith Asalanka (capt), Pathum Nissanka, Nuwanidu Fernando, Nishan Madushka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Pavan Rathnayake, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Milan Rathnayake, Dilshan Madushanka, Asitha Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera.
