By Sumayya
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday declared the lineup for the Hong Kong Sixes, with Abbas Afridi picked captain for the six-player competition.
The competition will take place at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground in Hong Kong from October 30 to November 1. Pakistan will leave for Hong Kong on October 28. Pakistan will play alongside 11 alternate teams in the three-day competition, showing 12 sides in all.
The playing teams have been split into four pools of three teams each, with Pakistan positioned in Pool C. Title holders Pakistan, who won the highly prized crown last year, their sixth in all, by beating Kuwait in the final, have been positioned in Group C alongside India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Australia, host nation Hong Kong, China and England make up Group A, while Bangladesh, Scotland and Sri Lanka remain in Group B. South Africa, Oman and Afghanistan build Group D.
The initial day will show nine games, with the first match between Australia and Hong Kong, China planned for 5:45am as per Pakistan Standard Time (PST), followed by Bangladesh’s game against Scotland at 6:40am.
Holders Pakistan will launch their drive against the UAE at 7:35am PST on Friday, October 30, before taking on top rivals India at 11:15am on the identical day. The remaining group-stage games will be finished on Saturday, October 31, with the initial match between Oman and Afghanistan planned for 5:45am PST.
The knockout round of the Hong Kong Sixes will likewise get underway on Saturday, with the top-placed teams from each group moving to the Cup semi-finals.
The second-placed sides will play the Plate semi-finals, while the third-placed teams will fight in the Bowl semi-finals.
The last day on Sunday, November 1, will show the respective finals and placement matches. The Cup final remains planned for 12:10am PST, while the Bowl and Plate finals will take place earlier at 10:20am and 11:15am, respectively.
Pakistan lineup:
Mohammad Abbas Afridi (captain), Abdul Samad, Ahmed Daniyal, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Khawaja Nafay, Muhammad Shahzad and Saad Masood.
