XtraTime Web Desk: So far we have watched 12 ICC World Cup’s has gone past where in the last edition we saw that the hosts England won the Cup by beating New Zealand through boundary count rule. Though the controversy had started when many people stated that it’s an injustice for the losing side and finally after a long discussion ICC has scrapped this rule as well. If we look back this is not the first time that a major event like World Cup has seen a controversy. Here are the 5 controversies that happened in ICC cricket World Cup:
2015 ICC World Cup: No ball incident in India vs Bangladesh quarterfinals
After Bangladesh thumped India in the 2007 World Cup and the Men in Blue were knocked out from the tournament, an unsaid rivalry began between the two neighbours. Though MS Dhoni’s men thumped Bangladesh in the 2011 World Cup but the rivalry took a wrong turn during the 2015 World Cup in Australia. In this World Cup Bangladesh reached quarterfinal for the first time by beating England and they faced India there. A controversy begun when umpire Aleem Dar gave a no-ball verdict against Rubel Hossain when Rohit Sharma was batting at the crease on 90. Though later everyone saw in the TV replays that the ball was clearly came to Rohit below the waist and the batsman should have been given out by the umpire. After getting another life Rohit scored 137 runs which helped India to beat Bangladesh in the knock outs. Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina waded into the controversy by claiming that her country would not have lost had the correct decision been given. ICC however put a lid on the whole incident by claiming that it was a 50-50 call and that the spirit of the game dictates that the umpire’s decision is final and must be respected. However, Aleem Dar was not seen officiating in the semi-finals and finals.
1999 ICC World Cup: Hansie Cronje earpiece controversy
Legendary Proteas batsman & the team’s skipper Hansie Cronje sparked a serious controversy in the 1999 ICC Cricket World Cup, when everyone saw him wearing a earpiece on the field during their first match against India. Cronje was taking instructions from the head coach Bob Woolmer during the game. After some time India’s opening batsman noticed the thing and asked the umpires to do something about the matter. After talking to the match referee umpires Steve Bucknor & David Shepherd ordered the South Africa captain to remove that earpiece. Though it was not against the law of ICC but controversy erupted as everyone thought that it was wrong to get any help from outside the ground when a game is going on.
2003 ICC World Cup: Shane Warne tests positive of doping
Just at the beginning of the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup, legendary Australian spinner Shane Warne was tested positive for a banned substance. After that he was sent back to home from South Africa by the team management & International Cricket Council (ICC) banned him for one year. He was Australia’s lead spinner and they arrived as an defending champions. His omission jolted Australia’s dream to defend the trophy. However, Australia cricket team regrouped quickly and went on to win the World Cup.
Bob Woolmer’s death during 2007 World Cup
Bang in the middle of the tournament, Pakistan were coming to terms with their early exit in the Caribbean when they had to contend with the news of the death of coach Bob Woolmer. The extensive investigations, which overshadowed the cricket completely or a while, eventually resulted in the conclusion that Woolmer had died of natural causes. However, there were several allegations and conspiracy theories that did the rounds and persist to this day.
Crowd problem at Eden Gardens in 1996
While the Eden Gardens at full capacity can act as a 12th man, the fans can also turn on their own when things aren’t going smoothly. The 1996 semifinal between India and Sri Lanka was one such occasion. Chasing 252, India were progressing serenely till the time Tendulkar was at the crease. Once he was out for 65, wickets fell in a heap. With India 120/8 and heading for a big defeat, sections of the crowd threw bottles and set fire to seats. In the end, there was no option but to award the match to Sri Lanka.