Pakistan Crowned Hong Kong Sixes Champions

Abbas Afridi-led Pakistan won the Hong Kong Sixes by defeating Kuwait in the final of the tournament. Pakistan has now won the most titles in the history of the tournament with 6 trophies in their cabinet.

Pakistan had managed to qualify for the final of the tournament on the previous five occasions but failed to win the all-important game each time. This time around, their clinical performance led them to a title-winning campaign.

The Men in Green were magnificent throughout the tournament, despite losing their match, due to DLS method, against India in the group stages of the three-day tournament.

After the defeat, the Green Shirts did not lose a single match, defeating South Africa in the quarter-final, Australia in the semi-final and eventually the surprise packages of the tournament, Kuwait in the final.

Kuwait had no answer for the onslaught by Pakistani batters, Khawaja Nafay, Abbas Afridi and Abdul Samad, the latter of whom is set to join the national team for their ODI series against Sri Lanka.

Abbas Afridi top scored with 52 runs in 11 deliveries, which included 7 maximums as Pakistan set a target of 136 for Kuwait to chase in the final.

Kuwait got off to a flyer in their run-chase, scoring 32 runs in the first over of the innings, before Mohammad Shahzad pulled things back with a 15 run over, which included a crucial wicket of Adnan Idrees.

Maaz Sadaqat followed it up with another wicket-taking over conceding only 12 runs, which derailed Kuwait’s run-chase. Abbas Afridi and Maaz Sadaqat finished off Kuwait’s batting line-up as Pakistan won the match by 43 runs and got their hands on the trophy.