The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday officially announced the squad for the upcoming Hong Kong Sixes tournament, appointing fast-bowling all-rounder Abbas Afridi as the captain. The high-octane six-a-side tournament is scheduled to take place at the Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground in Hong Kong, running from October 30 to November 1.
The national squad is set to depart for Hong Kong on October 28 to begin their preparations. A total of 12 international teams are participating in this three-day spectacle, which has been divided into four distinct pools.
Defending champions Pakistan, who secured the prestigious title last year after a dominant performance against Kuwait in the final, have been placed in Pool C. They will face stiff competition in the group stage against arch-rivals India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The tournament structure is highly competitive, with Group A featuring Australia, Hong Kong, China, and England, while Group B consists of Bangladesh, Scotland, and Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, South Africa, Oman, and Afghanistan have been grouped together in Group D.
The opening day of the event will be action-packed, featuring nine matches in total. The tournament kicks off with a clash between Australia and Hong Kong, China, scheduled for 5:45am Pakistan Standard Time (PST).
Pakistan will begin their campaign against the UAE at 7:35am PST on Friday, October 30. This will be followed by a highly anticipated, high-voltage encounter against India at 11:15am on the same day, a match that is expected to draw significant global viewership.
The knockout stage of the tournament is slated to begin on Saturday, October 31. According to the tournament format, the top-ranked teams from each of the four groups will progress to the Cup semi-finals.
The final day of the event, Sunday, November 1, will feature the deciding matches, including the grand final to determine the champion of the 2026 edition. The Pakistan squad for the tournament includes: Mohammad Abbas Afridi (captain), Abdul Samad, Ahmed Daniyal, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Khawaja Nafay, Muhammad Shahzad, and Saad Masood.
The team management has expressed confidence in the selected players, noting that the squad is a blend of young talent and experienced domestic performers capable of retaining the title.