Just Not Cricket: The World Cup controversies

On the eve of Australia's title defence in 2003, Shane Warne tested positive for a banned substance known as Moduretic. Warne, as a result, was sent home from South Africa and banned from international cricket for a year. He was their lead spinner and talisman, and his sudden exit from the tournament threatened to derail Australia's World Cup plans. However, the team quickly regrouped, and went on to lift the title. (Getty Images)

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. (Getty Images)

Due to security fears following the bombing of the Central Bank in Colombo by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), both Australia and West Indies decided not to travel to the island nation and had to forfeit their matches against Sri Lanka as a result. Sri Lanka benefited as they went on to top the group and eventually beat Australia in the final. (Getty Images)

In a strong protest against the ills of the Robert Mugabe regime and the 'death of democracy' in Zimbabwe, Andy Flower and Henry Olonga announced via a press statement before their opening game that they would wear black armbands during the course of the tournament. While their actions received international support, the backlash was so severe in Zimbabwe that Flower and Olonga quit playing after the World Cup. (Getty Images)

In South Africa's first ever World Cup, they met England in the semifinals and needed 22 from 13 balls when rain intervened. Once the players were back on the field, the equation on the scoreboard read 22 runs off seven balls. Moments later, however, it was clarified that they actually needed an improbable 22 runs off one delivery in accordance with the rule (Most Productive Overs method) for rain-affected matches back then. Brian McMillan duly patted the last delivery for a single and walked off furiously as their World Cup campaign came to an unfortunate end. (Getty Images)

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. (Getty Images)

Skipper Hansie Cronje and coach Bob Woolmer never shied away from coming up with ingenious tactics, but they took it a step too far in the 1999 World Cup. In the opening match against India, Cronje was seen wearing an earpiece on the field and taking instructions from Woolmer in the dressing room. Sourav Ganguly, who was opening the batting, noticed this and brought it to the attention of the umpires, who made Cronje remove the earpiece after consulting the match referee, even though it wasn't technically against the law. (Getty Images)

Andrew Flintoff made headlines for all the wrong reasons in the Caribbean. After England lost to Sri Lanka in their opening game, he was involved in a drunken misadventure when he fell off a boat in St Lucia. It resulted in the all-rounder being stripped of the England vice-captaincy as well and copping a one-match ban. (Getty Images)