India and Pakistan once again come fact to face this year when the arch-rivals take on in a Group C clash of the Hong Kong Sixes 2026 on Friday at the Mission Road Ground in Mong Kok. The last time these two teams met in the previous edition, India won the game by mere two runs.
Unlike the previous years, where India fielded retired players, the Men in Blue decide to take active cricketers, in a bid to win the crown. Led by Krunal Pandya, the star-studded Indian team consists of , Rahul Tripathi(w), and .
Pacer was initially scheduled to participate in this tournament, but had to withdraw after the India veteran was called up in the national side after four years in their ongoing tour of Group C also includes United Arab Emirates as the third team.
It is an annual tournament hosted by Cricket Hong Kong. Unlike the normal cricket matches, in this tournament, the games are played between two teams of seven players each. Each game consists of six overs per side. According to the rules, only one player is allowed to bowl two overs.
As per standard cricketing rules, wides and no-balls count as the usual extra run to the batting side, plus an extra ball. However, there is no free hit for a no-ball like in ODIs an T20Is. For batters, one should retire after reaching 50, but may not retire before reaching 50. If one of the last pair of batters is out, any retired ‘not out’ batter may resume his innings.
In case five batters are dismissed before six overs, the last remaining batter will continue to bat, with the fifth batter out as his running partner.
A total of 12 teams feature in the tournament, divided into four groups of three teams each. Every side plays other in the group once in a round-robin stage, with the top team from each group advancing into the Cup semifinals and then the final. The second-placed teams in each group advance into the Plate semifinals and then final. The third-placed teams competed in the Bowl semifinal and then final.
Unfortunately, no television channel has bought the broadcasting rights for Hong Kong Sixes 2026 in India yet. But, live streaming of India vs Pakistan match today will be be available at FanCode app and website.
India: Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi(w), Krunal Pandya(c), Shashank Singh, Rahul Tewatia, Kulwant Khejroliya, T Natarajan
Pakistan: Irfan Khan, Khawaja Nafay(w), Abdul Samad, Saad Masood, Muhammad Shahzad, Abbas Afridi(c), Ahmed Daniyal
