The Pakistan Cricket Board on Thursday announced the squad for the upcoming Hong Kong Sixes 2026, retaining Abbas Afridi as captain of the defending champions.
The PCB confirmed that the seven-member team will be managed by Raza Kitchlew and will leave for Hong Kong on October 28. The Hong Kong Sixes, one of the most exciting and fastest formats of cricket, will be played at the Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground from October 30 to November 01.
This year’s edition will feature 12 teams divided into four groups. Pakistan has been placed in Pool C, which is considered a highly competitive group as it includes arch-rivals India and the United Arab Emirates.
Group A consists of Australia, host Hong Kong, and England, while Bangladesh, Scotland, and Sri Lanka are in Group B. South Africa, Oman and Afghanistan make up Group D.
Pakistan will open its campaign on the first day of the tournament. According to the announced schedule, the Green Shirts will face UAE at 7:35 AM PST on October 30, followed by the much-anticipated clash against India at 11:15 AM on the same day. The group stage will conclude on October 31, with the knockout rounds also beginning on the same day. As per the format, the top-ranked team from each group will progress to the Cup semi-finals, the second-placed teams will compete in the Plate semi-finals, and the third-placed teams will feature in the Bowl semi-finals.
The selected squad features a blend of power-hitters and all-rounders suited for the six-a-side format. Captain Abbas Afridi, who led Pakistan to the title last year, will be joined by Abdul Samad, Ahmed Daniyal, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Khawaja Nafay, Muhammad Shahzad, and leg-spinner Saad Masood.
Pakistan are the most successful team in the history of the tournament, having won six titles. They clinched the last edition in November 2024 by defeating Kuwait in the final at Mong Kok, where Abbas Afridi played a match-winning knock of 52 runs off just 11 balls. The team will enter this edition as defending champions with the aim of retaining the trophy.
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