Pakistan suffered a narrow defeat against the UAE in their opening Group C match of the Hong Kong Sixes 2026, despite posting 106 runs in six overs.
HONG KONG — WEB DESK : Defending champions Pakistan suffered a disappointing start to their Hong Kong Sixes 2026 campaign after losing their opening Group C match against the United Arab Emirates by one wicket on Friday.
Pakistan posted 106 for two in their allotted six overs after winning the toss and electing to bat at Mission Road Ground in Mong Kok. However, the UAE successfully chased the target, finishing at 109 for five to secure a thrilling victory with no balls remaining.
Abbas Afridi led Pakistan’s batting effort with an impressive 53 runs from just 13 deliveries before retiring hurt. Abdul Samad also made a valuable contribution, scoring an unbeaten 39 off 15 balls.
Irfan Khan added eight runs, while wicketkeeper-batter Khawaja Nafay was dismissed for three. Pakistan’s aggressive batting helped them cross the 100-run mark in the six-over contest.
Khalid Shah Leads UAE’s Successful Chase
UAE captain Khalid Shah produced a match-winning performance, smashing 71 runs from only 20 deliveries. His innings included nine sixes and three boundaries, putting considerable pressure on Pakistan’s bowling attack.
Zahid Ali provided crucial support with an unbeaten 22 from eight balls, helping the UAE reach the target in a dramatic finish.
Pakistan’s Abbas Afridi and Irfan Khan picked up one wicket each, while Abdul Samad also claimed a wicket during the UAE innings.
Khalid Shah was named Player of the Match for his outstanding batting performance.
Pakistan Face India in Next Group Match
Pakistan will next face arch-rivals India in another Group C encounter scheduled for Friday, October 30, at the same venue.
The defeat puts additional pressure on Pakistan as they look to recover in the group stage and defend the title they won in the previous edition.
Pakistan entered the 2026 tournament as defending champions after defeating Kuwait in the 2025 final to claim their sixth Hong Kong Sixes title.
