The Hong Kong Sixes 2025 is set to return in grand style, bringing together some of the world’s best cricketers for a thrilling three-day tournament. Starting on November 7 and running through November 9, this year’s edition promises to be an action-packed festival of cricket, featuring fast-paced six-a-side matches and unforgettable moments. Here’s everything you need to know about the tournament, including the teams, schedule, rules, and more!
What is the Hong Kong Sixes?
The Hong Kong Sixes is one of the most popular and unique cricket tournaments in the world, featuring a shorter, more exhilarating format than the traditional game. Since its inception in 1992, the tournament has grown into a beloved event, attracting top teams and players from around the globe. The tournament was last held in 2024, where Sri Lanka emerged as the champions. This year’s edition marks the 21st installment, set to take place at the iconic Mission Road Ground in Mong Kok, Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong Sixes tournament brings a thrilling mix of retired legends, seasoned professionals, and rising stars in a format where each team consists of just six players. With only six overs per side, every match is fast-paced, ensuring non-stop action from start to finish.
Teams and Pools for Hong Kong Sixes 2025
This year, 12 teams from around the world will compete in four groups during the tournament’s group stages. Each pool will feature three teams, and the top two from each pool will move on to the knockout rounds. The pool breakdown is as follows:
Pool A: South Africa, Nepal, Afghanistan
Pool B: Australia, England, UAE
Pool C: India, Pakistan, Kuwait
Pool D: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Hong Kong
Each team has selected a mix of players with a mix of experience and youthful exuberance. Some of the standout players include Dinesh Karthik and Robin Uthappa for India, Joe Denly for England, and Sharafuddin Ashraf for Afghanistan.
Schedule for Hong Kong Sixes 2025
The tournament kicks off on November 7, and here is the schedule for India’s group matches, which are bound to be highly anticipated:
- India vs Pakistan: November 7 (Friday) – 1:05 PM IST
- India vs Kuwait: November 8 (Saturday) – 6:40 AM IST
With matches scheduled throughout the day, the tournament will feature 29 exciting games across three days, culminating with the final match on November 9 (Sunday).
For fans who want to watch the Hong Kong Sixes live, FanCode will provide exclusive live streaming of all the action.
Hong Kong Sixes 2025: The Rules You Need to Know
The Hong Kong Sixes follows a unique set of rules designed to add to the excitement of the game. Here are the key points to remember:
- Six-a-Side Format: As the name suggests, each team fields six players, and each match consists of just six overs per side.
- Bowling Rules: Every player, except the wicketkeeper, must bowl at least one over. However, only one bowler can bowl two overs in an innings.
- Retired Players: Batters retire when they score 50 runs but can come back to bat if all other players are out or retired.
- Wickets: If five wickets fall, the last batter continues to bat with a runner at the other end. The innings ends only when all six players are out or the sixth over is completed.
The top two teams from each pool will progress to the quarterfinals, and from there, it will be a knockout competition. Teams that don’t qualify for the main draw will compete in additional bowl and plate fixtures to determine their final rankings.
Conclusion
The Hong Kong Sixes 2025 is shaping up to be another unforgettable chapter in the world of short-form cricket. With a mix of boundary-hitting excitement, quickfire innings, and the chance to see some of the world’s best cricketers in action, the tournament promises to deliver a high-energy spectacle. Don’t miss the action—be sure to tune in to FanCode to watch the live broadcasts and follow the drama as the teams battle it out for the trophy.