Cricket fans were left in disbelief during a group match at the World Championship of Legends 2025. Former Australian fast bowler John Hastings had a terrible day at the office as he ended up bowling 18 balls in just one over, with 12 of them going wide. It was a moment that had everyone watching in total shock.
It all unfolded during Australia’s final group game against Pakistan on Tuesday, July 29, and in no time, the moment became one of the most talked-about highlights of the tournament for all the wrong reasons.
John Hastings sparks drama with bizarre 18-ball over in WCL 2025
Australia were already under pressure, having posted a low total of just 75 runs in their allotted overs. The Pakistan batters looked in complete control, but things turned downright embarrassing when John Hastings came on to bowl.
— Billy Bowden (@billybowdenn) July 29, 2025
It was Hastings’ first over of the match, and one he will wish he could erase from memory. The tall right-arm pacer simply couldn’t find his rhythm or the correct line. He ended up bowling 12 wides, forcing the umpire to extend his over to a total of 18 deliveries, nearly triple the usual length.
Despite all the experience behind him, John Hastings struggled to land the ball anywhere near the batsmen. The over saw him conceding 19 runs from just 5 legitimate balls, as Pakistan’s openers Sharjeel Khan and Shoaib Maqsood capitalized on the chaos.
Meanwhile, the video of Hastings’ marathon over quickly made its way around social media. Fans had all kinds of reactions; some were shocked, some laughed, and others felt bad for him. Many couldn’t believe that such an experienced bowler lost control like that. A few even called it one of the weirdest overs they’ve ever seen in cricket. Whether you found it funny or just plain frustrating, it’s a moment cricket fans will remember for a long time.
As if things couldn’t get any worse, Australia ended up losing the match by 10 wickets. In the process, they were crashed out of the tournament. On the other hand, Pakistan topped the group. They booked their place in the semi-finals. Pakistan will now take on archrivals India in what promises to be a high-stakes clash.
In the age of fast-paced T20 and T10 formats, overs like these are rare, especially in global tournaments, even those involving retired stars. Hastings, who has previously represented Australia in both ODIs and T20Is, looked completely off-colour in a match that was otherwise crucial for his team.
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While Australia bowed out in disappointment, Pakistan celebrated their place in the semi-finals, maintaining an unbeaten run in the tournament. With Younis Khan leading from the front and a solid all-round performance from the team, they will now face archrivals India in a blockbuster semi-final.
Sponsor pulls out of India-Pakistan semi-final
India, however, barely made it into the knockouts. Despite managing just a solitary win in the group stage, they secured qualification based on net run rate. Amid the hype around the upcoming India vs. Pakistan semi-final, a major twist occurred off the field. EaseMyTrip, a key sponsor of the tournament, announced their decision to withdraw support from the match.
Company co-founder Nishant Pitti took to social media on Wednesday morning, writing, “We have decided not to support the India vs. Pakistan match in the Legends League. Terror and cricket cannot go hand in hand.”
While Pitti congratulated the Indian team, which is being led by Yuvraj Singh, he made it clear that the organization could not support a game involving Pakistan, citing political and emotional concerns.
The move sparked intense debate online, with fans and analysts divided over whether such actions belong in a cricketing context, especially in a legends tournament.
