Ali Khan's bouncer clears boundary untouched in Canada Super 60 semi-final, umpire signals five wides

A delivery from Ali Khan during the first semi-final of the Canada Super 60 at BC Place in Vancouver on October 4, 2026 produced one of the more unusual moments in recent cricket. Khan bowled a bouncer to Kieron Pollard that pitched, rose sharply above head height, and cleared the boundary rope without touching the bat, Pollard's helmet, or any part of his body. The umpire responded by signalling five wides, a decision that sparked immediate discussion in the commentary box and on social media.

"Generally, it's gone for six, but six wide." Danny Morrison said while doing commentary duties during the incident.

Toronto Sixers won the semi-final by nine runs, defending a total of 130/4 in the 10-over contest. The bizarre delivery added to the talking points from a match that was already notable for its compact format and the short dimensions of the indoor venue.

Why did the umpire signal five wides and not six?

Under MCC Law 22, a wide delivery carries a one-run penalty. Under Law 19, when an untouched wide reaches the boundary, four boundary runs are added to that one-run penalty, bringing the total to five runs. No additional runs are awarded beyond that figure, regardless of how far the ball travels after crossing the rope.

A boundary six is awarded only when the ball has been struck by the bat and then crosses the boundary. Because Khan's delivery was not touched by Pollard at any point, it could not be scored as a six under any reading of the laws. The delivery was also correctly called a wide in the first instance because it passed above head height, satisfying the MCC Law definition of an unplayable delivery.

The combination of those two rules meant the umpire had no discretion in the matter. The call of five wides was the only outcome permitted by the laws, and the short boundaries at BC Place simply made a rare scenario visible to a live audience.

Can a wide that clears the boundary ever be scored as six wides?

The short answer is no. A wide that travels over the boundary without being touched is awarded five wides, not six, because the laws do not permit a six to be awarded unless the bat makes contact with the ball. This distinction is clear in the laws but is rarely seen in practice, partly because most grounds have boundaries long enough to prevent an untouched bouncer from reaching the rope.

Six wides can technically appear on a scorecard, but only if batters complete five running wides after the wide is called, giving a total of one wide penalty plus five completed runs. That scenario did not apply at BC Place on October 4, 2026, where the ball went directly to the boundary without being played.

"He can't have six wide, so he can't have six prizey. Ridiculous. They've got to sort that out, the MCC, don't they, I reckon?" Morrison said.

The incident prompted wider discussion about whether the laws should be reviewed for short-boundary indoor or covered venues where such deliveries may occur more frequently. No formal review or rule amendment has been confirmed at this stage.