Author: News Desk

Former Australian fast bowler John Hastings bowled one of the most chaotic overs in T20 history as Pakistan crushed Australia by 10 wickets in a World Championship of Legends match in England.

Playing at Grace Road in Leicester, Hastings bowled an 18-ball over that included 12 wides and a no-ball, yet failed to complete six legal deliveries. The over, which cost Australia 19 runs, handed Pakistan a comfortable win in their run chase.

The 39-year-old was handed the ball by captain Brett Lee in the eighth over of Pakistan’s innings after Australia were skittled for just 74 runs in 11.5 overs. 

Hastings started the over with five consecutive wides on the offside. After that, he managed two legal deliveries, which resulted in a single and a four. Then came a no-ball that also would have counted as a wide, sailing high and down the leg side.

The free hit that followed was yet another wide, again down leg, before conceding a leg bye after switching to bowl around the wicket to left-hander Sharjeel Khan. Another wide followed outside off stump to the right-handed Sohaib Maqsood, before two legal balls brought a dot and a single.

The over ended dramatically as Hastings bowled five more wides. Three of them drifted down the leg side to Khan from around the wicket, while the final two went almost off the pitch from over the wicket to Maqsood.

Pakistan openers Sharjeel Khan (32*) and Sohaib Maqsood (28*) cruised to victory without losing a wicket. The Australians, including captain Lee, were visibly stunned as Hastings lost control completely.

Despite the humiliating defeat, Australia will play in the semifinal against South Africa, led by AB de Villiers on Friday.

The Indian Legends team, which refused to play against Pakistan in the group stage of the World Championship of Legends 2025, is now set to face the Green Shirts in the tournament’s semifinal.

On Tuesday, India qualified for the semifinal after defeating West Indies Champions in a crucial encounter. Batting first, the West Indies side set a target of 145 runs in the allotted 20 overs. However, India managed to chase the total in less than 14 overs, which was needed for them to achieve the required net run rate for qualification.

Owing to a brilliant half-century by Stuart Binny, India achieved the target in only 13.2 overs, losing five wickets in the process. With this result, India became the fourth and final team to reach the semifinals.

Earlier on the same day, Pakistan Champions crushed Australia Champions by 10 wickets, securing the top position on the points table.

Following India’s win, the semifinal lineup is now complete. Table-toppers Pakistan will now take on fourth-placed India in the first semifinal on July 31. The second semifinal, also scheduled for the same day, will be played between South Africa and Australia.

It merits mention that the much-anticipated group stage clash between Pakistan and India was cancelled earlier in the tournament after Indian players refused to play against the Pakistani side.

According to reports, Indian team demanded that Shahid Afridi not be included in the playing XI as cricketers, including Shikhar Dhawan, Yusuf Pathan, Irfan Pathan, and Harbhajan Singh, reportedly opposed playing the match over the Pakistani star’s political views and strong opposition of Indian atrocities in occupied Kashmir.

Following this, tournament organisers had issued a statement expressing regret over the cancellation of the match between the two arch-rivals. In a recent media interaction, Dhawan said that if they did not play against Pakistan in the group stage, they will not play in the semifinal or final either.

Now all eyes are on whether the Indian team will follow through on its earlier stance or show up for the high-voltage semifinal clash.

Pakistan has decided to oppose the proposed two-division structure for Test cricket, rejecting what it sees as a move to strengthen the dominance of a few top-tier nations in the traditional format of the game, according to media reports.

Media reports say that early discussions among top PCB officials emphasized that cricket is a global sport and all nations deserve equal opportunity. “If smaller teams don’t play against stronger sides, how will their performance improve,” one official said, as per a source, adding that Pakistan hopes other nations will support its stance when the matter goes to vote.

The move comes in response to a proposal currently being considered by the International Cricket Council (ICC), which has formed an eight-member working group led by Sanjog Gupta to explore the introduction of a two-division Test structure. The group includes figures like England’s Richard Gould and Cricket Australia’s Todd Greenberg, and is expected to submit recommendations to the ICC Board by the end of the year.

The proposed system, if approved, could be implemented during the 2027 to 2029 World Test Championship cycle. It would replace the current nine-team format with two divisions of six teams each, requiring a two-thirds majority from ICC’s 12 Full Members for approval. The concern is that promotion and relegation could leave lower-ranked nations with limited opportunities to face stronger opposition.

Under current rankings, Australia, South Africa, England, India, New Zealand and Sri Lanka occupy the top six spots and could be placed in Division One. Meanwhile, teams like Pakistan (ranked 7th), West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe risk being relegated to Division Two.

Reports added that PCB stressed their opposition is not based on self-interest. “We’re thinking beyond ourselves,” said one official. “Even if Pakistan moves up in rankings and secures a spot in Division One, what about West Indies or Bangladesh? How will they improve if they are left to play only among themselves?”

The PCB also addressed criticism that it has not given importance to Test cricket. The board clarified that the national team will play nine Test matches in 2026, offering a chance to improve its rankings and compete with higher-ranked teams.

While only five Tests are scheduled for Pakistan this year, including a recent loss in Cape Town to South Africa and a 1-1 home series draw against West Indies, the upcoming calendar promises more. Two home Tests against South Africa are scheduled for October and November.

In 2026, Pakistan is set to tour Bangladesh in March and April, West Indies in July and August, play a three-match series in England in August and September, and host Sri Lanka for two Tests in November.

“Claiming we don’t value Test cricket is unfair,” the official added. “We’re building a strong Test calendar to ensure our team competes at the highest level.”

With growing concerns that the proposed two-tier system could widen the gap between cricket’s elite and emerging teams, Pakistan’s firm opposition is expected to resonate with other full members who may face similar risks.

Lancashire County Cricket Club has launched an investigation after a video showing a Pakistani cricket fan being asked to cover his national team jersey during the fourth Test between England and India at Old Trafford went viral on social media. 

The fan, identified as Farooq Nazar, posted the video online. He can be seen wearing a green Pakistan team T-shirt while seated in the stadium when a security steward says he was instructed by the control room to ask the fan to cover his shirt. Later in the clip, another steward refers to the shirt as “nationalistic” and insists it be concealed.

The incident quickly sparked controversy online, drawing attention to issues of discrimination and freedom of expression in sports venues. Visibly frustrated, Nazar is seen questioning the repeated requests and is eventually approached by a police officer who asks him to step out of the stands. Reports suggest Nazar chose to leave the stadium rather than cover his shirt.

While it remains unclear on which day of the five-day Test the incident occurred, Lancashire has acknowledged that it did take place and confirmed that a formal inquiry is underway.

“We are aware of the incident and are taking steps to fully understand all the circumstances and context,” a club spokesperson told to ESPNcricinfo.

The controversy comes amid heightened political tensions between India and Pakistan, following recent border skirmishes in June. 

The strained relations between the two countries have also impacted cricketing ties, with no bilateral series played between them since 2012–13 and no Test series since 2007–08.

Even in ICC events, matches between India and Pakistan are often held at neutral venues to avoid hosting disputes. 

Meanwhile, Lancashire has been working to strengthen its commercial links with India in recent years. Manchester Originals, the club’s Hundred team, reportedly channels 70 percent of its revenue to Indian businessman Sanjiv Goenka’s RPSG Group, which also owns the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL.

Lancashire CEO Daniel Gidney has previously expressed interest in involving the BCCI in The Hundred competition as a potential stakeholder.

The incident is now being viewed as another example of how political sensitivities can influence fan experiences at international sporting events. The club’s investigation is expected to address growing concerns over whether fans should face restrictions for simply showing support for their home country.