Pakistan’s hopes of reaching the Hong Kong Sixes 2026 Cup semi-finals ended when the United Arab Emirates beat India by six wickets in the final Group C match.
Pakistan needed an India win to force a three-way tie, with net run rate playing in. Instead, the UAE chased down India’s total of 95 and won their second match in a row. They finished unbeaten with four points and took the group’s only Cup place. Pakistan ended second with two points, while India finished last without a point.
Pakistan’s campaign started badly with a one-wicket loss to the UAE on day one. They recovered with a four-wicket win over India, chasing 88 in 3.5 overs. Abbas Afridi hit five consecutive sixes in the chase, with the win lifting Pakistan’s net run rate.
The tournament places teams in three brackets based on their group results. Group winners play for the Cup, runners-up enter the Plate, and third-place teams go to the Bowl. The UAE, Australia, Scotland and Afghanistan contest the Cup semi-finals. Pakistan face hosts Hong Kong in the second Plate semi-final, and India meet England in the Bowl semi-finals.
The split rules out another Pakistan-India meeting at this year’s tournament.
Pakistan won a record sixth title in 2025, beating Kuwait by 43 runs in the final. India have won the event once, beating the West Indies in the 2005 final.
