When there is an event as big as World Cup of Cricket, there is a lot of room for controversies along with all the buzz and grandeur of the event. We tried to recall some famous controversies from different world cups of cricket.

Rain Rain Go Away: South Africa lost to rain

South Africa debuted in World Cup of 1992. The team proved itself good enough by reaching semi finals of the Cup against England. But much to their bad luck, South Africa was washed out of world cup by rain. South Africa was chasing a target of 22 runs from 13 balls when rain came. The ‘highest over scoring’ rule calculated and revised target of 22 from 1 ball. The rule decreed that, in rain-affected matches in which the overs had to be adjusted, the least-productive overs from the side who batted first would be discounted. A team which played very well in their first world cup was seen as a poor victim of the rule.

Tamil Tigers and 1996 world cup

Though Tamil Tigers had nothing to do with the cricket world cup of 1996, their terrorist activities made Australia and the West Indies to forfeit their group games against Sri Lanka due to security reasons. Tamil Tigers were involved in so many bombings and other terrorist activities that year. As a result Sri Lanka was awarded the points from both games. Later Sri Lanka topped their group and beat Australia in final played at Lahore.

Mama’s innocent boy fails drug test

Australia’s best spinner Shane Warne failed a drug test before 2003 world cup and was sent back home just one day before the big event started. The funny part is his plea of being innocent, in which he stated that he did not use any drug and just took a pill given to him by his mother to reduce weight. One can imagine his innocent face while explaining all this but unfortunately it could not change the decision and he had to leave the team for world cup and go back home.

World cup 2003 and black arm bands

Zimbabwe was facing a hard time under the presidency of Robert Mugabe. Zimbabwe skipper Andy Flower and Henry Olanga wore black armbands when they appeared in their home ground for the opening match of their side in protest to Mugabe’s presidency. They later describe the act as "mourning the death of democracy in Zimbabwe''. It was a very rare act done by one black and one white cricketers of Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe was playing against Namibia in Harare. It could have been their last match if Flower was not decidedly Zimbabwe’s best batsman. Both of the players made it to the end of the tournament but left the country right after that and never played for Zimbabwe again. Olanga tried his luck and gained success as singer and TV commentator while flower started coaching.

2007 world cup and dancing in the dark

2007 world cup had its share of small controversies and complaints. But the final proved to be as a sample of ill-planning. 2007 world cup final was played between Australia and Sri Lanka in Bridgetown. First the rain delayed the grand finale and it was obvious that when match will start late, it will end late and ground decided for final match was without flood lights. It became a major embarrassment when darkness set before the rescheduled end. When it did, the officials misread the regulations and told the captains they would have to come back the next day to complete some of overs. Sri Lanka was way behind after Adam Gilchrist’s century so players went out again in almost total darkness to finish the remaining overs which they did not need to do anyways as the cutoff point to constitute a match had already been reached.

Saddest day of Cricket

Pakistan’s worst performance in 2007 world cup was embarrassing but it was not controversial; even though Pakistan was out of the event after just less than a week. Pakistan lost against Ireland in a very miserable way. On the night of Pakistan’s defeat, Pakistani coach Bob Woolmer was found dead in his hotel room. Police department of Jamaica initially announced that he had been murdered. This statement led to hundred of theories about the sudden death but after some months it was declared that Woolmer died of natural causes.

Refusing to go to Zimbabwe and Kenya

In 2003 world cup England refused to go to Zimbabwe to play their group match against Zimbabwe in Harare, due to security reasons. This decision of England changed the scenario for England in second phase, as Zimbabwe collected the points from this game and also profited when a match against Pakistan was ruined by rain. In the same world cup New Zealand refused to travel to Kenya due to security reasons. Kenya gained points from this match and reached to semi finals.

Taking it away from England

This is an off-the-field controversy. First three world cups were held in England and it was agreed that 1987 world cup will be held in England like the past three world cups. But the International Cricket Council was transforming from a club-like style into a modern organization. Representatives of England had a 13 hours long meeting with ICC but it was of no use and world cup was transferred to India and Pakistan.

Bob Woolmer’s innovation

Bob Woolmer was famous for thinking ‘out of the box’. One of his innovations during 1999 world cup became controversial though. Woolmer was coaching South African team then and it had to play its first match against India in Hove. Hansie Cronje, captain of South Africa reached the ground fitted with an earpiece. It was a one way device and Cronje could only hear the advice from Woolmer; but referee made Cronje remove the piece at the first drinks break. It was soon outlawed.