Held at the Alan Cooke Ground (ACG) from June 29 to July 4, the tournament generated historic matchups, strategic adaptations and standout individual milestones as teams from five continents competed fast-paced, six-a-side action.
Featuring a broad international player presence featuring 24 visiting teams, the competition blended former first-class cricketers from India the Middle East Asia the United States, seasoned players from Australia, and the regular Masters tournament heavyweights from the Maldives.
It also ensured the recently revamped and newly laid Astro Turf playing surface at the iconic ACG sports ground in Thalang was given a good test thanks to some pulsating action and challenging weather.
Normally hosted in its namesake town, the famed 30-year-old tournament traded the Gulf of Thailand for the Andaman Sea this year due to ground unavailability in Hua Hin.
The unique six-a-side hybrid format consists of explosive 5-over innings where every player must bowl one over demands highly specialised team line-ups. Ideally built around versatile all-rounders, these line-ups prioritsze explosive power-hitting down to number six and nimble boundary fielders capable of defending the shortish boundaries of the ACG.
Teams faced gruelling back-to-back matchups where dynamic run-rates and bonus points ultimately decided the top four semi-final bracket.
The 2026 tournament marked the grand debut of the facility’s brand-new AstroTurf wicket, which provided a true, consistent bounce that heavily favoured aggressive stroke play. The outfield –bordered beautifully by Thalang’s natural lakeside scenery – offered a smooth turf surface that remained remarkably quick, even when the tropical elements intervened.
Played during Phuket’s vibrant “green season”, the teams had to contend with highly volatile tropical weather which especially tested the conditioning of the international squads. This ranged from searing heat and sunshine for the early pool matches to heavy monsoon rain on day three which interrupted the tournament and saw all matches cancelled with the teams sharing the points.
However, for day six, the skies cleared just in time for the final rounds, resulting in an exciting series of semi-finals and finals for each division.
LEGACY
The four division tournament results were as follows: Thai Thevada beat defending champions Melbourne Mavericks in the Cup, while The Follies beat SIXR from Bangladesh in the Masters. The Veterans competition saw an all Maldives showdown, with the Maldives 1 side getting the better of their Maldives 2 counterparts, while the Gold Coast Tigers beat Victoria Super Vets in the Supervets final.
While there were numerous fine performances on show, it was Abhishek Raman of Thai Thevada who was named both Player of the Tournament and Best Overall Batsman in recognition of his sterling efforts.
The accommodation host for the tournament was the Amora Beach Resort in Bang Tao which provided a wonderful refuge after a hard days cricket, with welcome and farewell dinners scheduled for all involved in the competition.
“The Hua Hin Cricket Sixes began in April 1996 at the Dusit Thani in Hua Hin,” explained Tom Karnasuta, chairman of the Hua Hin Sixes in Phuket Committee ahead of the tournament.
“However, after 30 years, the event ended when the resort reclaimed its grounds for development. Efforts to find a new venue were challenging but ultimately resulted in relocating to the ACG in Phuket with the added attraction of a revamped playing surface,” he added.
“We extend thanks to Anthony van Sleeuwen of Sala Phuket Mai Khao Beach Resort, Neil Quail from ACG Ground and Events, and the Hua Hin Sixes in Phuket committee for all their help in coordinating this change.
“The tournament’s legacy continues in Phuket and we thank all involved for helping deliver such a fantastic event,” Tom concluded.