Cricket fans could be in for an exciting contest as India and Pakistan are scheduled to face each other in the Hong Kong Sixes 2026 tournament. Pakistan has announced its seven-member squad for the competition, with Mohammad Abbas Afridi appointed captain as the defending champions prepare to begin their title defence.

According to the supplied report, the much-anticipated India-Pakistan match will take place on October 30 at Mission Road Ground in Mong Kok, Hong Kong. Pakistan will first face the United Arab Emirates (UAE) before meeting India in its final Group C fixture.

Mohammad Abbas Afridi to Lead Pakistan

Fast-bowling all-rounder Mohammad Abbas Afridi has been entrusted with leading Pakistan in the six-a-side tournament. He captained the team to the title in the 2025 edition and delivered impressive performances with both bat and ball.

Afridi reportedly scored 138 runs across five matches in the previous tournament at a remarkable strike rate of 460, while also claiming three wickets.

Abdul Samad was another standout performer, scoring 142 runs at a strike rate of 330.23, including a half-century. Pakistan will hope that the pair can reproduce their explosive form in the upcoming competition.

Pakistan's Key Players Return for the Tournament

Several players who contributed to Pakistan's successful 2025 campaign are included in the announced squad.

Wicketkeeper-batter Khawaja Nafe, who reportedly scored 151 runs at a strike rate of 284.90 in the previous edition, is expected to be an important part of the batting lineup.

All-rounder Mohammad Shahzad also made a significant contribution last year, finishing with seven wickets. His best bowling figures in the tournament were reportedly 3 for 11.

With a combination of aggressive batters, bowling options and players familiar with the competition, Pakistan will aim to make another strong start.

India vs Pakistan: What Happened in 2025?

The previous edition produced an exciting India-Pakistan encounter. According to the supplied report, India defeated Pakistan by two runs in their group-stage meeting.

Pakistan nevertheless recovered from that setback and went on to win the tournament. The team defeated strong opponents, including South Africa and Australia, before beating Kuwait by 43 runs in the final to lift the title.

The contrasting results underline the unpredictable nature of the Hong Kong Sixes format, in which short matches and aggressive batting can quickly change the course of a game.

Pakistan Squad for Hong Kong Sixes 2026

The Pakistan Cricket Board's announced seven-member squad, as listed in the supplied report, is:

1. Mohammad Abbas Afridi (captain)

2. Abdul Samad

3. Ahmed Daniyal

4. Mohammad Irfan Khan

5. Khawaja Nafe

6. Mohammad Shahzad

7. Saad Masood

India-Pakistan Clash Could Be a Tournament Highlight

The Hong Kong Sixes is known for its fast-paced format, where teams have limited time to build an innings and batters are encouraged to score quickly. This often creates high-scoring encounters and dramatic finishes.

Pakistan will enter the tournament as defending champions, while its clash against India is likely to attract considerable attention from fans of both sides.

With Abbas Afridi leading a squad featuring several players from the previous title-winning campaign, Pakistan will look to defend its crown. India, meanwhile, will have an opportunity to challenge the champions in what could become one of the tournament's most closely followed matches.

Note: The match date, fixtures and squad details above are based on the supplied report and have not been independently verified.