Cricket World Cup is probably one of the biggest event after FIFA followed by the world audiences. Every world cup has its own charm and energy. They say everything is fair in love and war, and so in Cricket World cup too. It is the second most largely played sport in the world and therefore the madness comes with the obvious craze for the game. Cricket players have to face lot of audience pressure if they make any mistakes. In this rage to win the cup, there is no chance that the tournament will proceed smoothly as everyone wants to win by hook or by crook. Thus the controversies happen. Some are minor and some are major enough to spoil a player’s career. Take a look at the top 5 controversies so far:
1. 1992 – South Africa suffer rain heartbreak
South Africa’s World Cup debut ended in farce when they were knocked out at the semi-final stage after a rain delay late in the game against England. The Proteas had needed a difficult but achievable 22 from 13 balls with four wickets in hand when the rain came. When it disappeared the ICC’s “highest overs scoring” rule calculated a revised target of 22 from one ball to leave the South Africans fuming.
2. 1996 – Sri Lanka matches forfeited
Australia and the West Indies opted to forfeit their group games against Sri Lanka in the island nation due to security fears following the Central Bank bombing by the Tamil Tigers earlier that year. Sri Lanka were awarded the points from both games, and after topping their group, went on to beat Australia by seven wickets in the final in Lahore.
3. 2003 – Shane Warne fails drug test
Legendary spinner Shane Warne was sent home a day before the tournament after it was revealed he had failed a drug test in the lead-up to the event. Warne pleaded his innocence, however, and claimed he had only taken a pill to help reduce his weight on the advice of his mother.
4. 2003 – Zimbabwe protest
Zimbabwe skipper Andy Flower and Henry Olonga wore black armbands in their side’s opening match on home soil in protest of Robert Mugabe’s presidency, later describing the act as “mourning the death of democracy in Zimbabwe”. After some political pressure, England opted not to play against the Zimbabweans in Harare, citing “security fears” while New Zealand also chose not to travel to Kenya on the same grounds. England’s decision proved costly as they failed to progress to the Super Six stage behind Zimbabwe.
5. 2007 – Flintoff’s ‘Fredalo’
Andrew Flintoff was stripped of the England vice-captaincy and banned for a match after he was caught commandeering a pedalo following a late-night drinking session in St Lucia. Reports suggested Flintoff had to be saved after he fell off the craft and got into difficulties in the water following England’s defeat to New Zealand, though that has been denied. Five other players were also fined for drinking on the same night with James Anderson, Liam Plunkett, Jon Lewis, Ian Bell and Paul Nixon all sanctioned.
The 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup is the 12th edition of the Cricket World Cup, scheduled to be hosted by England and Wales, from 30 May to 14 July 2019.