Pakistan beat India on Friday in the Hong Kong Sixes, a six-over match played between teams of six players. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, however, treated the rare win as a major achievement, drawing ridicule even from some Pakistanis.
The Hong Kong Sixes is a six-a-side tournament in which matches are played over six overs per innings. Batting first, India managed just 88 for five, the lowest total of the day. Pakistan chased down the target in less than four overs.
Sharif congratulated the team on X, also praising the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
“Congratulations to our boys on a superb four-wicket victory over India in the opening clash of the Hong Kong Sixes 2026!” he wrote. He also commended PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi and his team for their efforts in preparing and supporting the players.
The congratulatory message, however, drew amusement and criticism from some Pakistani users. An X user, Lahori Guy, pointed to Pakistan’s recent record against India in major international competitions, writing: “Pak got humiliated in last 5 yrs in every ICC match Vs Ind and you are celebrating HK Sixes Win that has no value.”
Another user simply asked: “What is wrong with this Cartoon??”
X user Saad described Sharif as an “international embarrassment”.
Indians, too, joined in. Former cricketer Ajay Jadeja responded to Sharif’s post, saying: “Congratulations on winning the Hong Kong Sixes World Cup match against India. Now, it’s time for the Victory Parade”
The win offered Pakistan a much-needed boost after the team had been on the brink of elimination following a one-wicket defeat to the UAE in its opening match earlier in the day.
The three-day tournament will see group winners advance to the semi-finals, with the final scheduled to take place at the Mission Road Ground in Mong Kok on 1 November.
What is the Hong Kong Sixes?
First held in 1993, the Hong Kong Sixes was designed to allow local players and fans to watch leading international cricketers compete. The tournament features national teams and has attracted established players over the years, although its format is markedly different from traditional cricket.
Matches are played between six-a-side teams, with six overs per innings, making for shorter contests and more aggressive batting. The tournament ran regularly through much of the 1990s and 2000s before its schedule was disrupted by the growth of franchise-based T20 leagues. It returned in 2024.
India and Pakistan have a history in the competition. The two sides met in last year’s edition, when India beat Pakistan by two runs.
This year, however, Pakistan came out on top with a four-wicket victory.
(Edited By Raunaq Lekhi)