Hong Kong Sixes 2026 - fixtures, teams and favourites

Simon Lewis

Editor

Last updated: 2 hours ago

Share

Simon Lewis 2 hours ago

Share this article

Pakistan are chasing a seventh Hong Kong Sixes title after beating Kuwait by 43 runs in last year’s final.
India and Pakistan meet in the same group on Friday, with only the group winner can reach the Cup semi-finals.
South Africa will again field Jorich van Schalkwyk, the leading run-scorer in 2025 .

Hong Kong Sixes 2026 (Getty Images).

Hong Kong Sixes 2026

Twelve teams, four groups and only six overs per innings make this a three-day shootout where even established international cricket reputations count for little. The tournament runs from Friday, 30 October to Sunday, 1 November 2026 at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground in Kowloon.

The official programme lists 25 contests, including a women’s Hong Kong-China exhibition on finals day. All times below are SAST - six hours behind Hong Kong.

How the competition works

Each side fields six players and bats for six overs. The four pool winners progress to the Cup semi-finals and remain in contention for the overall title. Second-placed teams enter the Plate competition, while third-placed sides play for the Bowl.

The system gives every team classification matches, but makes the two pool games unusually important: one early defeat can be costly.

Pool	Teams
A	Australia, England, Hong Kong, China
B	Bangladesh, Scotland, Sri Lanka
C	India, Pakistan, UAE
D	South Africa, Afghanistan, Oman

Friday 30 October - pool fixtures

SAST	Pool	Match
2:45	A	Australia v Hong Kong, China
3:40	B	Bangladesh v Scotland
4:35	C	Pakistan v UAE
5:30	D	South Africa v Oman
6:25	A	Hong Kong, China v England
7:20	B	Bangladesh v Sri Lanka
8:15	C	India v Pakistan
9:10	D	South Africa v Afghanistan
10:05	A	England v Australia

Saturday 31 October - final pool fixtures

SAST	Pool	Match
2:45	D	Oman v Afghanistan
3:40	B	Scotland v Sri Lanka
4:35	C	UAE v India

Saturday 31 October - semi-finals

SAST	Stage	Match
5:30	Bowl SF1	B3 v D3
6:25	Bowl SF2	A3 v C3
7:20	Plate SF1	B2 v D2
8:15	Plate SF2	A2 v C2
9:10	Cup SF1	A1 v C1
10:05	Cup SF2	B1 v D1

Sunday 1 November - play-offs and finals

SAST	Stage	Match
3:40	11th/12th	Bowl SF losers
4:35	7th/8th	Plate SF losers
5:30	3rd/4th	Cup SF losers
6:25	Women’s exhibition	Hong Kong v China
7:20	Bowl final	Bowl SF winners
8:15	Plate final	Plate SF winners
9:10	Cup final	Cup SF winners

Who can win the Hong Kong Sixes?

Pakistan are the obvious starting point. Abbas Afridi led the 2025 champions and struck 52 from 11 deliveries in their final victory over Kuwait, while Khawaja Nafay and Abdul Samad again give the side attacking options. Pakistan have a difficult Group C draw, however, with India and the UAE standing between them and a semi-final spot.

India bring an unusually recognisable cast of IPL players to. the tournament including Krunal Pandya, Shashank Singh, Rahul Tewatia, Nitish Rana and Rahul Tripathi. Pandya has replaced Bhuvneshwar Kumar as captain after Bhuvneshwar was called up for India’s New Zealand tour.

South Africa have strong returning Sixes experience. Captain Jorich van Schalkwyk made 122 runs in the 2025 event while Abdullah Bayoumy was their leading wicket-taker with four victims under his belt. Steve Stolk, Blake Simpson and Ayabulela Gqamane provide further options although Afghanistan’s Gulbadin Naib and Karim Janat make Group D extremely competitive.

Australia and England meet in Group A, which also contains hosts Hong Kong. England are captained by John Simpson and have all-round depth in Daniel Mousley, Ed Barnard and Fynn Hudson-Prentice. Sri Lanka could be dangerous in Group B under Sangeeth Cooray, with Scotland’s Michael Leask an intriguing short-format presence.

Early editorial lean

Pakistan are the narrow Cup pick on Sixes-specific experience, with India, South Africa and England credible contenders. This is a prediction, not a quoted betting market or guaranteed value selection.

Simon is a talented sports writer in South Africa with a strong focus on cricket having played first-team level for UCT, including playing at two Universities Weeks.

From a young age Simon was an avid reader of cricket magazines and books, and went on to be Editor of The Googly, CricketScene SA and SA Cricket, in addition to being a Features Writer on SA Sports Illustrated.

He has interviewed most of South Africa's premier cricketers and was the first writer to interview a teenaged Jacques Kallis.

Simon has also written about English and local football, rugby and cricket, in addition to major international tennis and golf stars and competitions.

You can follow more from Simon at Muckrack, X and LinkedIn.