Cricket, often celebrated as a game of integrity, honesty, and fierce competition, can sometimes surprise fans with moments that shake its very foundation. Recently, during the prestigious World Champions League of Legends (WCL 2025), a bizarre incident involving an 18-ball over has taken the cricketing world by storm, raising serious questions about the sport’s transparency.
The match in question was between Australia and Pakistan champions. Australia’s captain, Brett Lee, who has played in all formats and participated in major ICC tournaments, was the bowler.
FOLLOW US ON OUR FB PAGE
Pakistan needed just 75 runs to win, with only 6 overs remaining. Their score stood at an impressive 55/0, putting them on the brink of victory, especially since they had already qualified for the semi-finals. However, what happened next was unprecedented.
In an over delivered by Lee’s teammate John Hastings, the game took a strange turn. The over consisted of multiple wide balls, no-balls, and only five legal deliveries. The over began with five consecutive wides, followed by two legal balls, then a no-ball and a wide.
The final four balls saw only three legal deliveries, with the last five balls again being wides. This resulted in a total of 18 balls in a single over—an occurrence that would be the second-longest in cricket history if played in professional matches.
WATCH: Australia Bowler, John Hastings bowled an 18-ball over in WCL 2025 vs PAK
Such irregularities cast a shadow over the game’s fairness. If this match had been official, Hastings’ 18-ball over would have set a new record for the longest in professional cricket.
The record currently belongs to Bert Vance, who bowled a 22-ball over in 1990. Other notable long overs include Mohammad Shami’s 17-ball over in the 2004 Asia Cup and Curtly Ambrose’s 15-ball over in 1997.
Cricket’s reputation relies heavily on fair play, and incidents like this threaten to tarnish its image. If not monitored closely, such moments could turn what is a symbol of honesty and struggle into a league of betrayal.