Venue: West Indies
Teams: 16, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, England, West Indies, Netherlands, Scotland, Bermuda, Ireland, Kenya, Canada.
Format: Teams divided into four groups of four each. The teams to play round-robin within the group. The top two from each group to advance to the next round or Super Eights as it was called.
In the Super Eights, all teams play each other except the team qualified from one’s group.
The top four from the Super Eights qualify for the semi-finals and then the final.
Controversies: The length of the tournament and the format came for a lot of flak. So did the fact that the ICC did not allow the spectators inside with any musical instruments, thus taking the flair away from watching the games in the stadium.
The steep costs of the tickets coupled with India and Pakistan’s early ouster and Australia’s one-sided dominance made it easily one of the most boring World Cups for most fans around. Bob Woolmer was found dead in his hotel room after his side Pakistan crashed out of the tournament, losing to Ireland leading to speculations that he was murdered.
Upsets: Bangladesh stunned India that knocked them out of the tournament as did first-timers Ireland to Pakistan. Pakistan and India were both knocked out in the first round itself. In the Super Eights stage, Bangladesh stunned South Africa but then went down to Ireland themselves.
*Most Runs’: Mathew HaydenMost Wickets: Glen McGrathPlayer of the series: Glen McGrathWinner: Australia*Runner-up’: Sri Lanka