Hong Kong Sixes 2026: Afghanistan beat Australia for first title; India finish 11th

Afghanistan won the Hong Kong Sixes for the first time on Sunday, November 1, 2026, beating Australia in the Cup final at the Mission Road Ground in Mong Kok. Chasing 116, Afghanistan reached 119 for two in 5.1 overs, with Imran Mir hitting 53 off 14 balls. It is Afghanistan's first title in the tournament's 34-year history. On the same day, Pakistan, the defending champions, beat Oman to win the Plate and finish fifth, and South Africa beat England in the Bowl final. India ended 11th of 12 teams, lifting themselves off the bottom with a five-wicket, last-ball win over Bangladesh in the 11th-place play-off, in which Shashank Singh scored 50 off 15 balls.

The Hong Kong Sixes is cricket at its shortest, with six players a side and very short innings, as Afghanistan's chase of 116 in 5.1 overs showed. It is a fun festival rather than an official international championship, but it has a long history and draws big audiences, especially in South Asia, where searches for its results ran into the tens of thousands on Sunday.

For Afghanistan, the title is another sign of how far the team has come. The team has become a feared opponent in short formats, and this week Rashid Khan became the first bowler to take 200 wickets in men's T20 internationals. Beating Australia in a final, with a chase of 116 completed in barely five overs, shows the explosive batting that has become Afghanistan's trademark.

For India, it was a disappointing week. The team lost both group matches, to Pakistan and the UAE, and then went out of the Bowl section by three runs against England. Only a last-ball win over Bangladesh avoided a last-place finish. The tournament's six-a-side format is far removed from regular international cricket, so the result says little about India's main teams, but it will sting for fans who followed the tournament closely after losses to the UAE and Pakistan.

The bright spot was Shashank Singh. His 50 off 15 balls in the final match showed the kind of clean hitting that suits the six-a-side format.

Short-term: Afghanistan's players and fans celebrate a first title in the event; India's players return home after a poor campaign, with Shashank Singh's late innings the main positive.

Long-term: The win adds to Afghanistan's growing record in short-format cricket. For India, the result will matter little to the senior team's plans, but the Sixes remains a showcase for players hoping to catch selectors' eyes.

Who is affected: Afghanistan's and Australia's players and fans, the Indian squad and its supporters, and organisers of the Hong Kong Sixes, which continues to draw large audiences in South Asia.

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