MONG KOK: Abbas Afridi Hong Kong Sixes Plate title was sealed on Sunday, when the Pakistan captain smashed a blistering innings to lead his side past Oman by 18 runs in the Plate final of the Hong Kong Sixes 2026. Pakistan posted a huge total, defended it with the ball, and lifted the second tier trophy at the Mission Road Ground in Mong Kok, ending their campaign on a winning note. The win did not bring the main title, but it gave Pakistan a trophy to take home and a fifth place finish in the tournament.
The final was decided by one innings of rare power, and Afridi was at the heart of it. Batting first after Oman chose to field, Pakistan piled up Pakistan 154 for 4 six overs, and Afridi led the way with 73 off 16 balls 11 sixes and one four, at a strike rate of 456.25. He struck the ball cleanly from the first over, cleared the ropes again and again, and retired before returning to the crease in the final over to finish the innings. His knock provided the backbone of Pakistan’s explosive total, and he was named player of the match for his efforts.
Oman fought hard in reply, but the target was too steep in a six over match. The Oman batsmen reached 136 for 4 in their six overs, and Pakistan held on for an 18 run victory to lift the Plate trophy. In a format where every ball counts and a single over can change the game, Pakistan’s total left Oman needing more than 25 runs an over from the start, and the bowlers kept their nerve at the death. The win was celebrated by the Pakistan camp, who had come to Hong Kong hoping to defend the main title they won in 2025.
The Plate is the second tier trophy of the Hong Kong Sixes, and it is contested by the teams that finish second in their groups, so winning it means finishing fifth overall. Pakistan could finish no higher than fifth after a group stage defeat to the United Arab Emirates sent them into the Plate competition, and the Plate final was their chance to salvage something from the trip. The team took that chance, and the trophy, while not the main prize, still marks a winning end to the tournament for the men in green.
Afridi was the story of the whole tournament for Pakistan, and his numbers tell the tale. He was named Player of the Tournament 216 runs in just four matches, and he smashed an incredible 31 sixes across the event. He had earlier starred in Pakistan’s win over India in the tournament, and he was just as brutal in the Plate semi final against the hosts, where Pakistan overwhelmed Hong Kong by chasing 107 without losing a wicket, with Afridi smashing an unbeaten 55 off 13 balls. Few players in the short history of the format have hit the ball as far and as often as he did in Hong Kong.
The main title went to a new champion, and Afghanistan maiden Hong Kong Sixes title was won on the same day at the same ground. Afghanistan completed an unbeaten campaign by beating Australia by four wickets in a dramatic Cup final, lifting the main championship for the first time. South Africa took the third trophy on offer, recovering from two group stage defeats to beat England by five wickets and lift the Bowl. The three finals gave the last day of the tournament a full spread of winners, and each of the three trophies went to a different team.
The Hong Kong Sixes is one of the most unusual events in world cricket, and it suits players who can hit the ball hard and bowl with nerve under pressure. Each side bats for only six overs, every player except the wicketkeeper must bowl one over, and a batsman who reaches 50 must retire, though he can return if his team runs out of batsmen. The format rewards clean hitting and quick thinking, and it has been a happy hunting ground for Pakistan over the years, with the men in green winning the main title six times before this year.
For Pakistan, the tournament also served as a reminder of the depth of hitting talent in the country, and of the value of giving young players a stage. Afridi, who leads the side and bowls as well as bats, showed that he can change a match in the space of a single over, and his 11 sixes in the final will be remembered as one of the great Hong Kong Sixes innings. The team will return home with the Plate trophy and with the knowledge that they were one group game away from a shot at the main title.
Readers should keep one point in mind about this result. The Plate is a real trophy, and Pakistan won it fairly, but it is not the main Hong Kong Sixes title, and the team finished fifth overall after failing to defend the crown they won in 2025. The win over Oman was still worth celebrating, and Afridi’s batting was genuinely special, but the bigger prize went to Afghanistan, and Pakistan will need to win their group next time if they want to bring the main trophy home again.
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