Hong Kong Sixes: India join officially, rules explained

While Hong Kong Sixes is returning after seven years, team India has officially joined the upcoming tournament.

Hong Kong’s Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground will host the three-day Hong Kong Sixes 2024 between November 1 and 3, 2024. A total of 12 teams will participate in this tournament. 

Hong Kong Sixes 2024: Participating teams

The officially announced teams are Hong Kong China, England, Oman, Australia, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka, South Africa, New Zealand, Nepal, Bangladesh, and India. 

Only Pakistan have announced the squad for the Hong Kong Sixes 2024. International cricketer Faheem Ashraf will lead the Pakistan team in the upcoming edition of the Hong Kong Sixes. 

Brief history and past champions

Hong Kong Sixes is a popular tournament where six-a-side international cricket teams compete. Its first edition was organised in 1993. Before the upcoming 2024 edition, this tournament was previously played in 2017. 

South Africa, England, and Pakistan have won five editions each in the Hong Kong Sixes. South Africa will start the forthcoming edition as the defending champions. Sri Lanka, Australia, West Indies, and India have won this trophy once each. 

Rules of the tournament:

General rules

• In every match, two teams compete with six players in each team. Just like the general white-ball formats, each team plays one innings in a match. Every innings consists of six overs with six balls in each over. 
• Each team must utilise four different bowlers in the six-over innings (except for the wicketkeeper), while each player can deliver a maximum of two overs but not consecutive overs.
• The wides and no-balls will cost one run along with one extra delivery.

Last man rule

• If five wickets fell in an innings (excluding retired not out) before the completion of the six overs, the last unbeaten batter can continue his batting with the latest dismissed batter acting only as a runner. Even if the running partner is dismissed, the last batter will be declared out. An innings will be completed before the completion of six overs if the team loses all six wickets. 
  

Retired not out

• A batter must retire not out after reaching the 50-run mark. But if the team loses one of the last active pairs (where both batters can play), the retired not out batter can resume his innings. 
• The rule book further added, “If more than one batter retires, then they must return in the order in which they retired. Any batter having not returned in order will be automatically ‘retired out’.”