Pakistan thrash India by four wickets in Hong Kong Sixes

HONG KONG: Pakistan delivered a dominant performance to defeat arch-rivals India by four wickets in the Hong Kong Sixes tournament on Friday, but the pre-match handshake snub once again brought cricket’s growing political tensions into the spotlight.

The Group C encounter at Mission Road Ground in Mong Kok witnessed another awkward moment during the toss, as Pakistan captain Abbas Afridi and India’s skipper Krunal Pandya avoided the customary handshake.

The incident echoed the controversy surrounding the 2025 Asia Cup in Dubai, when India captain Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha also skipped the traditional greeting at the toss.

Despite the off-field tension, Pakistan let their performance do the talking, producing an explosive batting display to chase down India’s target with remarkable ease.

After winning the toss, Abbas Afridi elected to bowl first. India managed to post 88 runs for the loss of five wickets in their allotted six overs, with Shashank Singh providing the major contribution.

Shashank smashed 40 runs off just 11 deliveries, giving India a competitive total in the fast-paced six-a-side format.

However, Pakistan’s response quickly turned the contest into a one-sided affair.

Abbas Afridi launched an extraordinary assault on Krunal Pandya in the opening over, smashing five sixes to collect 31 runs and immediately put India under pressure.

The Pakistani captain continued his aggressive approach, finishing with 35 runs from just eight deliveries.

Khawaja Nafay provided the finishing touch with an unbeaten 41 off 12 balls, ensuring Pakistan crossed the finish line in only 3.5 overs.

Pakistan’s explosive chase highlighted their batting firepower and left India with little opportunity to recover after an expensive start.

The four-wicket victory added another memorable chapter to the intense cricketing rivalry between the neighbouring countries.

However, the repeated refusal of captains to shake hands has once again raised questions about the growing influence of political tensions on sporting encounters.

While cricket is traditionally celebrated for its spirit of sportsmanship and mutual respect, the latest incident showed that the rivalry between Pakistan and India continues to extend beyond the boundary ropes.

On the field, however, Pakistan had the final word, securing a convincing victory through an outstanding display of power-hitting.