Afghanistan Win Maiden Hong Kong Sixes Title
Afghanistan won the Hong Kong Sixes title for the first time on Sunday, beating Australia by four wickets in a thrilling final at Mission Road Ground in Mong Kok. The Afghans chased a target of 116 in just 5.1 overs, finishing on 119 for two with five balls to spare.
Imran Mir led the chase with an unbeaten 53 off only 14 balls, including seven sixes and two fours. Farmanullah Safi gave him strong support with an unbeaten 26 off seven balls, including four sixes. Captain Gulbadin Naib added 17 off six balls before he fell, but the chase never lost pace after that.
The win capped an unbeaten campaign for Afghanistan across the three day tournament. It also made them the eighth different country to lift the Hong Kong Sixes trophy, a list that already includes Pakistan, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka, India, Australia and the West Indies.
Hong Kong Sixes title: how the final unfolded
Australia won the toss and chose to bat first. In a six over innings, every ball carries weight, and Australia used that format well at first. Max Bryant smashed 44 off 14 balls, including four fours and four sixes. Nick Hobson added 23 off eight balls, while Alex Ross stayed unbeaten on 29 off 10 balls. Australia closed on 115, which set Afghanistan 116 to win.
Afghanistan lost two early wickets, which could have slowed the chase in such a short game. Instead, Mir and Safi attacked from the start of their partnership. Mir cleared the boundary seven times, and Safi cleared it four times in seven balls. The pair turned a testing chase into a comfortable one, and Afghanistan reached the target with an over almost in hand in normal cricket terms, and five balls left in this format.
The margin flatters the chase only slightly. Australia had posted a strong total, and Bryant had given them a fast start. But six a side cricket rewards the team that keeps hitting, and Afghanistan hit longer and more often when it mattered.
The road to the final
Afghanistan reached the final through a clean run. They beat South Africa and Oman in the group stage, then beat Scotland by 21 runs in the Cup semi-final. That semi-final win set up the meeting with Australia, who had beaten the United Arab Emirates by 53 runs in the other semi-final.
Scotland took third place after beating the UAE by 45 runs in the third place play-off. The Scots had topped their group after beating Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, but their campaign ended against Afghanistan.
Pakistan finished fifth overall, after competing in the Plate competition following their exit from the Cup race. Feature Pakistan covered that part of the tournament in Pakistan Win Hong Kong Sixes Plate Title, where Pakistan beat Oman in the Plate final. Oman finished sixth, hosts Hong Kong finished seventh after edging Sri Lanka by one run, and Sri Lanka finished eighth. South Africa claimed ninth place after beating England in the Bowl final, England finished tenth, India finished eleventh after beating Bangladesh by five wickets, and Bangladesh finished last in twelfth place.
Why this win matters for Afghanistan
What happens next
Frequently asked questions
Who won the Hong Kong Sixes 2026 final?
Afghanistan beat Australia by four wickets in the final at Mission Road Ground in Mong Kok, Hong Kong, on Sunday, November 1, 2026.
What was the score in the final?
Australia posted 115 after batting first. Afghanistan chased the 116 run target in 5.1 overs, finishing on 119 for two with five balls to spare.
Who was the star of the final?
Imran Mir scored an unbeaten 53 off 14 balls, including seven sixes and two fours. Farmanullah Safi supported him with an unbeaten 26 off seven balls, and captain Gulbadin Naib scored 17 off six balls.
How did Afghanistan reach the final?
Afghanistan beat South Africa and Oman in the group stage, then beat Scotland by 21 runs in the Cup semi-final. Australia reached the final by beating the United Arab Emirates by 53 runs.
Where did Pakistan finish in the tournament?
Pakistan finished fifth overall after winning the Plate competition. Oman finished sixth, Hong Kong seventh, Sri Lanka eighth, South Africa ninth, England tenth, India eleventh and Bangladesh twelfth.
