Hong Kong Cricket Sixes is one of the shortest forms of cricket that is organized by Hong Kong Cricket and sanctioned by the International Cricket Council. The tournament’s last edition was played in 2017 but is yet to achieve a defunct status.
The Hong Kong cricket series began in 1992. Each team consists of six players. The tournament is held in Kowloon Cricket Club. 1996 and 1997 were the only editions when the tournament was played in Hong Kong stadium.
The rules of game are slightly different from professional cricket and are meant to speed up the game while simultaneously making the format thrilling.
- Both teams bat for a total of five overs. Each over consists of six balls. In the finals, each over has eight balls.
- Except the wicket-keeper, each member of the fielding side bowls one over.
- Wides and no-balls result in two runs.
- If five wickets have fallen, the last batter continues to bat, with the fifth batter becoming the runner at the non-striker’s end. Each time, the last batter takes strike and not the runner.
- A batter who reaches 31 runs has to retire. The batter can resume batting only after the remaining batters are out.
- For every match win, a team is awarded two points.
Based on the number of teams participating in an edition the tournament has rarely seen a consistent format being followed. However, in most instances, teams are divided into pools. Teams in each pool play each other in a single or double round-robin format. The standings of teams in each pool determines which teams have progressed to the knockout stages. After the knockout stage, the four winning sides contest the semis and the final in the Cup Stage. The losing sides compete against each other for the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th position in the Plate Stage.
England and South Africa are the most successful teams, having won the tournament five teams each. Pakistan are the next best side, having won four titles out of the nine finals they reached.
