Islamabad, Pakistan - Celebrations erupted across Pakistan following the national cricket team's victory at the Hong Kong Sixes tournament on Sunday, November 9, 2025, where they defeated Kuwait in the final. However, the jubilant mood soon turned chaotic after a fake tweet, purportedly from the Prime Minister's official account, announced a week-long national holiday to commemorate the win.
The Hong Kong Sixes is a unique and electrifying cricket tournament featuring six-player teams. Pakistan's triumph marked their record sixth title, surpassing England and South Africa, who each have five wins. The final saw Pakistan amass 135/3 in their 6 overs, with outstanding performances from Abdul Samad, who scored a rapid 42 off 13 balls, and captain Abbas Afridi, who contributed a blistering 52 off just 11 deliveries. Their bowling attack then restricted Kuwait to 92 runs, securing a comfortable victory. Abbas Afridi was named both Player of the Match and Player of the Tournament.
The victory sparked widespread celebrations among fans, who lauded the team's performance and their reclaiming of the title after a 14-year gap. Adding to the fervor, a picture of Pakistani all-rounder Muhammad Shahzad recreating Indian cricketer Hardik Pandya's iconic celebration pose went viral, further fueling the excitement and banter between fans of the two nations. Shahzad was the leading wicket-taker for Pakistan in the tournament, claiming 7 wickets.
Amidst the genuine outpouring of joy, a parody account on X, formerly known as Twitter, impersonating Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, posted a message congratulating the team and declaring a week-long national holiday. The fake tweet quickly spread like wildfire, amplified by social media users and even some news outlets that failed to verify its authenticity.
"Congratulations, Pakistan cricket team, on winning the Hong Kong Super Sixes. Although we can't beat Indian commentators XI, this victory is nothing short of a World Cup win! I would like to declare 1-week national holiday on this occasion," the fake tweet stated.
The announcement caused immediate confusion and disruption. Citizens celebrated prematurely, businesses were unsure whether to remain open, and government offices were flooded with inquiries. The Prime Minister's office was forced to issue an immediate clarification, stating that the tweet was fake and no such holiday had been declared.
"It has come to our attention that a fake notification regarding a week-long holiday is being circulated on social media. This notification is false, and no such decision has been taken by the Prime Minister," a spokesperson for the PM's office stated.
The incident has raised serious concerns about the spread of misinformation and the importance of verifying information before sharing it online. Authorities are investigating the source of the fake tweet and have urged the public to be cautious of unverified information circulating on social media platforms. This is not the first time a fake tweet in the name of PM Shehbaz Sharif has caused confusion.
While the holiday turned out to be a hoax, the Pakistan cricket team's victory in the Hong Kong Sixes remains a significant achievement, marking their dominance in the tournament's history. The team received a $20,000 award for their victory. The incident serves as a reminder of the power and potential dangers of social media in the age of instant information.
