Pakistan crush India by four wickets in Hong Kong Sixes after Afridi’s five sixes in one over
Pakistan bounced back from an opening-day defeat to beat India by four wickets in the Hong Kong Sixes on Friday, 30 October 2026, chasing down a target of 89 in just 3.5 overs at the Mission Road Ground in Mong Kok.
India batted first after Pakistan won the toss and chose to bowl, but managed only 88 for 5 in their six overs. Shashank Singh provided the only real resistance, hitting 40 from 11 balls, while Abdul Samad took two wickets for 10 runs.
Pakistan’s reply was over almost as soon as it began. Captain Abbas Afridi hit five sixes in the first over, bowled by India captain Krunal Pandya, as the over went for 31 runs. Afridi made 35 from eight balls and Khawaja Nafay scored 41 from 12, and Irfan Khan hit the winning runs as Pakistan reached 91 for 2 with 13 balls to spare. Afridi was named Player of the Match.
The win mattered because Pakistan had lost their opening Group C match to the United Arab Emirates by one wicket earlier on Friday. The victory over India moved Pakistan to the top of the group and kept the defending champions in the hunt for the semi-finals. The two captains did not shake hands at the toss.
Why it matters
The Hong Kong Sixes is a short, six-a-side format in which every ball counts, and Pakistan’s win showed their power-hitting depth. Afridi’s five sixes in a single over set the tone, and the chase was finished in less than four overs — one of the fastest wins of the opening day. For the defending champions, who won last year’s title by beating Kuwait in the final, it was a statement that they intend to keep the trophy.
What happens next
The tournament runs from 30 October to 1 November, with the group winners going through to the semi-finals and the final on Sunday, 1 November. Pakistan’s qualification now depends on the other Group C result, between India and the United Arab Emirates on Saturday, 31 October. If India win, all three teams finish level on points, and the team with the most sixes in the group goes through to the Cup semi-finals.
This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.
Sources
- https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/pakistan-beat-india-comprehensively-in-hong-kong-sixes-2026/ (CricTracker, 30 October 2026)
- https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/pakistan-dominate-india-in-a-high-voltage-hong-kong-sixes-showdown-302924899.html (PR Newswire, 30 October 2026)
- https://ianslive.in/afridi-nafay-power-pakistan-to-four-wicket-win-over-india-in-hong-kong-sixes–20261030155436 (IANS, 30 October 2026)
- https://a-sports.tv/pakistan-register-emphatic-win-over-india-in-hong-kong-sixes (A-Sports, 30 October 2026)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Hong_Kong_Sixes (Wikipedia, accessed 1 November 2026)
