The Hong Kong Sixes 2026 runs from 30 October to 1 November, with 12 nations playing six-a-side, six-over cricket at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground in Kowloon. It is the tournament’s 22nd edition, and defending champions Pakistan are chasing a seventh crown.
South Africa, captained by Jorich van Schalkwyk, are in Group D with Oman and Afghanistan and open on Friday 30 October at 05:30 SAST. This guide covers the schedule, squads, streaming, venue and tickets for South African fans.
Hong Kong Sixes 2026 at a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Tournament | Hong Kong Cricket Sixes 2026 (22nd edition) |
| Dates | 30 October – 1 November 2026 |
| Organiser | Cricket Hong Kong, China (CHKC) |
| Commercial partner | JSW Sports |
| Format | Six players a side, six overs an innings |
| Teams | 12, split into four groups of three |
| Defending champions | Pakistan |
| South Africa’s group | Group D (with Oman and Afghanistan) |
| Captain of South Africa | Jorich van Schalkwyk |
| Time difference | Hong Kong is 6 hours ahead of South Africa (SAST) |
The 22nd edition is scheduled from 30 October to 1 November 2026, and South Africa’s squad is captained by Jorich van Schalkwyk. JSW Sports has come on board as a commercial partner, working with Cricket Hong Kong, China on marketing and sponsorship.
Because South African fans face early-morning starts and no confirmed local broadcaster, having one reliable place to catch up on every result matters more than usual. The HongKongSixes.com.in hub keeps you across group standings, Cup, Plate and Bowl progress, and knockout updates throughout all three days. With matches wrapping up in under an hour each, it’s an easy way to follow South Africa’s run without staying glued to the live stream before breakfast.
Full Hong Kong Sixes 2026 Schedule in South African Time
All times below are converted to SAST (GMT+2) from the official GMT listings.
Day 1: Friday, 30 October (Group Stage)
| SAST | Group | Match |
|---|---|---|
| 02:45 | A | Australia vs Hong Kong, China |
| 03:40 | B | Bangladesh vs Scotland |
| 04:35 | C | Pakistan vs UAE |
| 05:30 | D | South Africa vs Oman |
| 06:25 | A | Hong Kong, China vs England |
| 07:20 | B | Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka |
| 08:15 | C | India vs Pakistan |
| 09:10 | D | South Africa vs Afghanistan |
| 10:05 | A | England vs Australia |
Day 2: Saturday, 31 October (Final Group Games and Semi-Finals)
| SAST | Stage | Match |
|---|---|---|
| 02:45 | Group D | Oman vs Afghanistan |
| 03:40 | Group B | Scotland vs Sri Lanka |
| 04:35 | Group C | UAE vs India |
| 05:30 | Bowl SF1 | B3 vs D3 |
| 06:25 | Bowl SF2 | A3 vs C3 |
| 07:20 | Plate SF1 | B2 vs D2 |
| 08:15 | Plate SF2 | A2 vs C2 |
| 09:10 | Cup SF1 | A1 vs C1 |
| 10:05 | Cup SF2 | B1 vs D1 |
Day 3: Sunday, 1 November (Placement Matches and Finals)
| SAST | Match |
|---|---|
| 03:40 | 11th/12th place play-off |
| 04:35 | 7th/8th place play-off |
| 05:30 | 3rd/4th place play-off |
| 07:20 | Bowl Final |
| 08:15 | Plate Final |
| 09:10 | Cup Final |
What Is the Hong Kong Sixes? A Quick Background
The Hong Kong Sixes (also called the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes or Hong Kong Super Sixes) is a short-form tournament played since 1992. It is built for big hitting, quick finishes and a festival atmosphere. The tournament returned in 2024 after a break, and Pakistan beat Kuwait by 43 runs in the 2025 final to win a record sixth title.
South Africa have a proud record here, with five titles in the tournament’s history. Their best-known Sixes names include Jonty Rhodes and Herschelle Gibbs from the old days. The 2026 side is a younger, domestic-flavoured group.
Hong Kong Sixes Format and Rules Explained
If you only follow Test and ODI cricket, the Sixes can look strange at first. Each team has six players and each innings lasts six overs, with the 12 teams divided into four groups of three.
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| Six players a side | Smaller teams mean fewer batters and more pressure on every ball |
| Six overs an innings | The shortest format in international cricket |
| Bowling split | Five bowlers bowl one over each, and one bowls two non-consecutive overs |
| Retire at 50 | A batter retires not out on 50 but can return if needed |
| Wides and no-balls | Cost two runs in effect, because the batting side gets a run and an extra ball |
| Last-wicket rule | After five wickets fall, the last batter continues with a dismissed batter as runner, and the innings ends on the sixth wicket |
How the Cup, Plate and Bowl Work
Every team plays two group games. The group finish then decides which trophy they chase:
- Group winners (A1, B1, C1, D1) go into the Cup semi-finals.
- Group runners-up (A2, B2, C2, D2) go into the Plate semi-finals.
- Third-placed teams (A3, B3, C3, D3) go into the Bowl semi-finals.
Semi-final losers play placement matches on Sunday, so no team goes home after only two games. For South Africa, that means finishing first in Group D is the quickest route to the Cup.
Hong Kong Sixes 2026 Groups and Teams
| Group | Teams |
|---|---|
| Group A | Australia, England, Hong Kong, China |
| Group B | Bangladesh, Scotland, Sri Lanka |
| Group C | India, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates |
| Group D | South Africa, Afghanistan, Oman |
Group C has the biggest headline match, India vs Pakistan on 30 October. Group D looks open, with a young South African side up against an experienced Afghanistan outfit. Oman are the third team.
South Africa at Hong Kong Sixes 2026: Squad, Coach and Preview
Hong Kong Sixes 2026 features 12 teams split into four groups of three. Each team will compete for a place in the knockout stages. Check the full Hong Kong Sixes 2026 squads for the complete player lists.
South Africa Squad
| Player | Notes |
|---|---|
| Jorich van Schalkwyk (captain) | Returning player, South Africa’s top run-scorer in 2025 |
| Abdullah Bayoumy | Returning player, South Africa’s top wicket-taker in 2025 |
| Blake Simpson | Returning player |
| Steve Stolk | New to the Sixes squad |
| Ayabulela Gqamane | New to the Sixes squad |
| Alindile Mhletywa | New to the Sixes squad |
| Heath Richards | New to the Sixes squad |
Van Schalkwyk, Simpson and Bayoumy all played in 2025, while Gqamane, Mhletywa, Stolk and Richards complete the travelling party, with South Africa A coach Wandile Gwavu in charge. Van Schalkwyk scored 122 runs in 2025 to lead South Africa’s batting, and Bayoumy took four wickets to lead the bowling.
What to Expect From the Proteas in the Sixes
South Africa’s recent Sixes form has been decent. They beat Nepal by four wickets in 2025, chasing down 59 with plenty to spare, so they know how to finish games in this format. The squad is also a good mix of three players with Hong Kong experience and four newcomers. It’s worth remembering that in six-over cricket, one big over from Van Schalkwyk or a tight spell from Bayoumy can decide a match.
Every opponent in Group D will be dangerous:
- Oman are a regular at ICC events and will back themselves in a short game, though South Africa should be favourites on paper.
- Afghanistan are the main threat. They are captained by experienced all-rounder Gulbadin Naib, and their squad also includes Sediqullah Pacha, Imran Mir, Farmanullah Safi, Nangyal Kharoti, Abdul Rahman Rahmani and Karim Jannat.
South Africa Match Schedule (SAST)
| Date | Match | Stage | SAST | Hong Kong time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, 30 Oct | South Africa vs Oman | Group D | 05:30 | 11:30 |
| Fri, 30 Oct | South Africa vs Afghanistan | Group D | 09:10 | 15:10 |
| Sat, 31 Oct | Cup/Plate/Bowl semi-final (D1, D2 or D3) | Knockout | 05:30–10:05 | 11:30–16:05 |
| Sun, 1 Nov | Placement match or final (if they qualify) | Knockout | 03:40–09:10 | 09:40–15:10 |
The Saturday and Sunday slots depend on where South Africa finish in Group D:
- D1: Cup semi-final vs B1 (09:10 SAST on Saturday if the fixture order holds)
- D2: Plate semi-final vs B2 (07:20 SAST)
- D3: Bowl semi-final vs B3 (05:30 SAST)
Note that the early starts are real. South African fans will be watching before breakfast.
Squads of the Other Major Teams
Pakistan (Defending Champions)
Pakistan’s squad is led by Mohammad Abbas Afridi and includes Abdul Samad, Ahmed Daniyal, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Khawaja Nafay, Muhammad Shahzad and Saad Masood.
1. India
India named Bhuvneshwar Kumar as captain, with Krunal Pandya, Shashank Singh, Rahul Tewatia, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi and T. Natarajan. There have been reports that the captaincy may change after Bhuvneshwar’s recall to the national set-up, with Krunal Pandya mentioned as a possible replacement, so check the latest team news before the first ball.
2. Australia
Chris Green captains Australia, with Jack Wood, Max Bryant, Nick Hobson, Kane Richardson, Alex Ross and Matt Kelly.
3. Afghanistan
Gulbadin Naib leads the side, as listed above. They are South Africa’s toughest Group D opponent.
4. Sri Lanka
Sangeeth Cooray has been named Sri Lanka’s captain.
England and the other sides had no full squads confirmed in the sources I could find, so check CHKC’s official channels for final line-ups.
Venue: Where Is the Hong Kong Sixes 2026 Being Played?
The tournament is scheduled for Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground in Hong Kong. It is a compact ground in Kowloon, which makes it ideal for the Sixes. Short boundaries, loud crowds and quick turnarounds are part of the experience. Most visitors travel by MTR and then walk or take a short taxi ride. exchange4media
One thing to check: the fixture list you may have seen shows “Mission Road Ground, Mong Kok”, which is where the 2024 edition was reported to have been held. Official 2026 announcements from organisers and partners name Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground. If you are travelling, confirm the venue on CHKC’s official site or your ticket confirmation before you go.
Fan Park and Other Activities
The event also features a community fan park and a Jockey Club-backed schools programme. That means there will be food, music, family activities and games alongside the cricket.
Hong Kong Sixes 2026 Tickets: Prices and How to Book
Pricing is not fully consistent across reports, so treat the figures below as a guide:
| Ticket type | Reported price | Source note |
|---|---|---|
| Three-day pass | HKD 780 | Reported tickets on sale for HKD 780 for all three days |
| General admission, 30 October | HKD 200 + HKD 18 handling fee (HKD 218) | Listed on Ticketflap newkeralasportsdunia |
To book, use the official Ticketflap listing linked from Cricket Hong Kong, China’s website. Always check the final price, fees and any day-by-day options at checkout. If you are planning a trip from South Africa, convert the Hong Kong dollar amounts at your bank’s current rate and allow time for flights and visas.
Hong Kong Sixes 2026 Live Streaming: How South Africans Can Watch
South African fans don’t have an official broadcaster for the Hong Kong Sixes 2026 just yet. Cricket Hong Kong, China hasn’t named a local TV or streaming partner for South Africa, so the picture could still change before the first ball on 30 October.
| Region | Broadcaster / Streamer |
|---|---|
| India | FanCode holds exclusive digital streaming rights, and Sony Sports Network broadcasts on TV |
| South Africa | Not confirmed at the time of writing |
| Rest of the world (2025 pattern) | Territories not covered by a specific partner could stream on YouTube |
For 2025, the rest-of-world stream was on YouTube. That is the most likely route for South African fans again, but verify on CHKC’s official social pages and YouTube channel in the days before 30 October. It is also worth checking SuperSport’s schedule, since it covers most cricket in South Africa, though we haven’t seen it confirmed for this event. If you plan to use a VPN to watch an Indian stream, check the platform’s terms first.
Hong Kong Sixes Previous Winners and Records
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First edition | 1992 |
| Most titles | Pakistan (six, with the sixth coming in 2025) |
| 2025 final | Pakistan beat Kuwait by 43 runs |
| South Africa | Five-time champions |
Final Word: Hong Kong Sixes 2026 for South African Fans
The Hong Kong Sixes 2026 packs 12 teams, three days and fast, fearless cricket into one Kowloon ground. South Africa open against Oman at 05:30 SAST on 30 October, so set an alarm.
Jorich van Schalkwyk’s mix of experience and new faces gives them a real shot at the Cup. Confirm the streaming details closer to the tournament, check the venue and ticket info on official channels, and bookmark this guide for any squad changes.
FAQs
On Friday 30 October 2026, with the first match at 02:45 SAST.
Oman at 05:30 SAST and Afghanistan at 09:10 SAST, both on 30 October.
Jorich van Schalkwyk.
Twelve, in four groups of three.
Six overs a side, so roughly 45 to 55 minutes including the changeover.
