Former Australia all-rounder John Hastings recently shared a hilarious memory from the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, featuring Tim Paine, Brad Haddin, and India’s Yuvraj Singh.

The 39-year-old recounted that during a party attended by Bollywood stars, things took an unexpected turn. A light-hearted moment escalated into a complete standstill when he accidentally broke a hotel table, grabbing everyone’s attention instantly.

Hastings laughed while recalling the chaos that followed, as the sudden incident left his teammates and guests in shock before the atmosphere eased back into fun. The story has since become one of his most memorable off-field moments from the tournament.

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John Hastings Talked About an Incident, Happened During 2011 World Cup:

The former Australian medium-pacer jokingly shared that after the incident, he quickly picked up the hotel phone and pretended to have a conversation with reception, acting as if nothing unusual had happened — even though the line was dead. He admitted feeling relieved that no fine came his way for the damage.

Hastings added that, despite the mishap, the night carried on in high spirits, and he enjoyed the celebrations to the fullest. Speaking to LiSTNR Sport, he recounted the story with a smile, saying it remains one of his funniest off-field memories from his playing days.

He said, “ It was one of those ones where we’d obviously had a few and I think you know we’d obviously been invited up to Yuvi’s (Yuvraj Singh) room and walked in and there was a suite. It was massive. It was as big as my house over here. And I remember looking around, I just jeez there’s so many people in here.”

He further said, “ What’s going on with this music? So, I was fiddling around with the laptop trying to get some of my playlist on and I sat on the edge of this… There was a ledge that had a phone on there. There was a laptop, I sat on it and bof off it came down on the floor and I just remember everyone just stopped and looked and went silent, dead quiet, pin could drop.”

He added, “ I just went, ‘What am I going to do here? I’m a young kid.’ It’s Yuvraj Singh’s room. There are so many people here. There’s probably Bollywood celebrities everywhere, and I just went, 'Right, stay calm,’ and I went to the phone, which was already out off the wall, and I’d seen the cord be ripped out of the wall. So, I just thought, I’ll just make sure that I’ve made this right.”

He further said, “ And there was no one on the end of the line. So, I picked up the phone. I said, ‘Reception,’ yep. John Hastings, I just want to make sure that there’s a bit of damage in Mr. Singh’s room. I’ll make sure I fix it up. I’m in the room such and such. And everyone was like, 'Well done, mate. That’s brilliant.’ And everyone just kicked on, played on.”

He concluded, “ I actually went down to reception to make sure that I could rectify the situation, but there was never another word. So, happy days. I didn’t had to pay for any damage and we had a really good night.”

John Hastings did not feature in any match for Australia during the 2011 World Cup but went on to play 29 ODIs, nine T20Is, and a Test, claiming 50 wickets overall. Interestingly, Yuvraj Singh was linked with several Bollywood actresses before marrying Hazel Keech in November 2015, marking a celebrated chapter in his personal life.

Yuvraj Singh Crowned Best Player of the 2011 World Cup:

Yuvraj Singh played a pivotal role in India’s 2011 World Cup triumph, earning the Player of the Tournament award for his remarkable all-round show. His performances were crucial in ending India’s 28-year wait for the title.

With the bat, Yuvraj scored 362 runs in eight innings at an impressive average of 90.50, which included one century and four fifties. With the ball, his left-arm spin proved equally valuable, as he claimed 15 wickets in nine matches. His consistency in both departments made him one of the biggest match-winners of the tournament and a key figure in India’s historic victory.

As military tensions escalate between India and Pakistan, several Australian cricketers and coaches participating in the IPL 2025 are reportedly planning their exit from the country. The various reports also suggest that many overseas players, especially Australians, are increasingly concerned about their safety and are looking for ways home.

A report by The Sydney Morning Herald stated that a number of player agents, who wished to remain anonymous, said Australian players are uneasy given the current situation, and anxiousness is heightened for those near sensitive border areas. Many are making plans to leave if needed.

IPL 2025 has some big-name Australian cricketers participating, including Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Travis Head. Also involved are established coaches Ricky Ponting and Brad Haddin, who are both involved in the tournament. All of whom may be affected by these events.

Match Called Off as Security Concerns Disrupt IPL

The ongoing tensions had a direct impact on the tournament when Thursday's IPL match between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Delhi Capitals (DC) in Dharamsala was abandoned. Initially regarded as a possible technical problem with the floodlights, later released information suggests the match was abandoned as a precautionary measure following reports of missile interception by India in nearby Jammu.

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IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal said in a statement to PTI, “Yes, the game has been called off as a precautionary measure, because there are incidents that happened in Jammu... we thought it was prudent to call off the match.” However, Friday's match scheduled between Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bengaluru is still anticipated to take place. The two teams from the Dharamsala match are being moved by special train to Delhi from Pathankot, located around 85 kilometers away.

Ricky Ponting is beginning his journey with the Punjab Kings by forming a dedicated support staff team, including some familiar faces from his time at Delhi Capitals. With a new four-year contract, he’s setting the stage for a successful tenure.

Familiar faces join Ponting at Punjab Kings

Ricky Ponting has taken his first major step in creating his team at Punjab Kings, starting with the addition of James Hopes, the former Australian all-rounder. Hopes, who has worked closely with Ponting at Delhi Capitals, joins as the new fast-bowling coach. Hopes had been offered a contract extension with the Delhi franchise after Ponting’s exit, but he chose to follow his former captain to Punjab Kings. This move signifies the exit of Charl Langeveldt, the former South African pacer, who had been in charge of fast-bowling under Trevor Bayliss in the last two IPL seasons.

Hopes, known for his international career with 84 ODIs and 12 T20Is for Australia, previously played for Punjab Kings (then Kings XI Punjab) during the inaugural IPL season in 2008. His familiarity with the IPL landscape and experience in the league will bring strategic insights to the team’s bowling lineup.

Key retentions and departures in the support staff

Alongside Hopes, Ponting has retained Brad Haddin as assistant coach, with responsibilities over batting and wicket-keeping. Haddin, initially brought in by Bayliss, had worked with Ponting in the past and has been a reliable presence for the team’s coaching framework. Sunil Joshi, former India spinner, also remains in his role as spin-bowling coach, adding continuity to the Punjab Kings’ coaching roster. Sanjay Bangar, however, has exited from his role as head of cricket development. His contract, initially set for three years, was terminated midway.

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Ponting has kept other essential staff, such as Adrian le Roux as strength and conditioning (S&C) coach and Andrew Leipus as team physio, to ensure continuity in the player fitness program. Now, his main priority is finalizing the player retention list, with discussions around key players like Arshdeep Singh and options for utilizing Right to Match (RTM) cards to secure talent at competitive prices.