WATCH: Pakistan captain Abbas Afridi rains SIXES as Hong Kong Sixes 2025 gets off to explosive start

Pakistan, Afghanistan and hosts Hong Kong, China, began campaign with impressive wins in Hong Kong Sixes 2025 tournament on Friday.

The Hong Kong Sixes 2025 tournament got off to an explosive start at the Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground on Friday with Pakistan making early statement. Pakistan skipper Abbas Afridi smashed 8 sixes in his 12-ball fifty as they hammered Kuwait by four wickets ahead of their much-anticipated clash against Team India later in the day.

The Pool C clash between Pakistan and Kuwait produced one of the most thrilling finishes of the day. Making their debut in the tournament, Kuwait impressed with a strong total of 123/2, with Meet Bhavsar scoring an unbeaten 40 off 14 and Usman Patel adding 31 not out off 9.

WATCH Pakistan captain Abbas Afridi’s fifty in Hong Kong Sixes against Kuwait HERE…

Big win for Pakistan against Kuwait in the Hong Kong Super Sixes!

They beat Kuwait by 4 wickets, with Abbas Afridi smashing six sixes in an over! #HongKongSixes pic.twitter.com/WjppEmAqTx

— ICC Asia Cricket (@ICCAsiaCricket) November 7, 2025

Pakistan needed 67 runs from the final two overs, but captain Abbas Afridi turned the game around in spectacular fashion, smashing six sixes in the penultimate over against Yasin Patel. Afridi finished unbeaten on 55 off 12 balls, while Shahid Aziz hit 23 not out off 5 to guide Pakistan to an incredible last-ball victory at 124/1.

In Pool D, defending champions Sri Lanka faced hosts Hong Kong, China in what turned out to be a one-sided contest. Sri Lanka were restricted to just 79/5 in their six overs, as Hong Kong’s bowlers kept the pressure throughout. The hosts chased down the target comfortably in 3.4 overs, winning by eight wickets.

Captain Yasim Murtaza led from the front with an unbeaten 26 off 8 balls, while Aizaz Khan blasted 44 not out off just 10 balls to seal a dominant win. This was Hong Kong’s first completed game after their opening fixture was washed out due to rain.

In Pool A, Afghanistan overcame Nepal by 17 runs in an entertaining contest. Afghanistan posted 112/5 in six overs, powered by Karim Janat’s 35 off 10 balls and an unbeaten 30 off 9 balls from Farmanullah Safi. Nepal’s Rashid Khan grabbed a memorable hat-trick, but it wasn’t enough as his team managed only 95/2 in reply, despite captain Sundeep Jora’s blazing 53 off 14 deliveries.

Reflecting on the game, Safi said, “When I saw the batsman, the boundary near the off stump looked a bit shorter to me. I thought if I bowl there and the batter even mistimes it slightly, it would be saved near the boundary.”

The tournament’s season opener between Bangladesh and Hong Kong, China, as well as the match between UAE and England, were abandoned due to rain.