Pakistan beats India in Hong Kong Sixes; PM Sharif's celebration sparks backlash

Pakistan defeated India by four wickets in a Group C match of the Hong Kong Sixes 2026 on Friday at Mission Road Ground in Mong Kok. Batting first, India scored 88 for five in six overs, with Shashank Singh contributing 40 off 11 balls. Pakistan chased the target in 3.5 overs, with opener Khawaja Nafay scoring 41 off 12 balls and captain Abbas Afridi hitting 35 off eight balls, including five consecutive sixes in Krunal Pandya's opening over.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the team on social media platform X, writing: "Congratulations to our boys on a superb four-wicket victory over India in the opening clash of the Hong Kong Sixes 2026! It was a good game of cricket." He also praised Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi and his team for their efforts in preparing the players. However, the post drew criticism and mockery, particularly for referring to the India match as the "opening clash" when Pakistan had already lost their first Group C match to the United Arab Emirates by one wicket earlier that day.

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra fact-checked the post on X, stating that Sharif showed "so much hurry to say 'we beat India' that [he] didn't even fact-check. UAE se haare in the opening game. And also, you can gauge the quality of cricket Pakistan is playing that country's PM is tweeting about Hong Kong Sixes." Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja's parody account sarcastically congratulated Pakistan on winning the "Hong Kong Sixes World Cup."

Some Pakistani social media users also criticized the celebration. One user, Lahori Guy, wrote: "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 called Sharif an "international embarrassment." The criticism contrasted with Pakistan's established record in major tournaments: India has won all eight one-day World Cup matches between the teams and leads 8-1 in T20 World Cup contests, with Pakistan's only victory coming in 2021.

Pakistan are defending champions of the Hong Kong Sixes, having won a record sixth title in 2025. The tournament features 12 teams divided into four groups, with group winners advancing to semi-finals. The final is scheduled for Sunday.