The 2007 Cricket World Cup is often considered by many cricket experts as the worst tournament ever. It faced widespread criticism due to various issues, such as poor infrastructure, bad outfields, and a lack of spectators in the stadiums.
One of the significant disappointments in the tournament was the early elimination of cricket powerhouses India and Pakistan in the group stage. Despite having star players like Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid, India faced defeats against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Similarly, popular players like Inzamamul Haque and Younus Khan couldn’t lead Pakistan to the next round, losing to Ireland and hosts West Indies. This early exit led to a less exciting and crowded World Cup for cricket fans.
Throughout the tournament, Australia and Sri Lanka showed outstanding performances, making it clear that they would reach the finals. The pitches were more favorable to batsmen, leaving little for pace bowlers to exploit.
One notable issue during the matches hosted by West Indies was the lack of spectators in the stadiums, drawing significant criticism. The strict entrance procedures might have contributed to the low attendance.
Tragically, the tournament also faced a shocking incident with the mysterious death of Pakistan’s coach, Bob Woolmer, in room number 374 of the Pegasus Hotel. His death raised many questions and sparked widespread criticism, but no conclusive answers were found.
The 2007 World Cup final witnessed unusual events. During the last three overs, Sri Lanka couldn’t bat due to insufficient light. They requested the umpire to declare victory for Australia, but the umpire insisted that the remaining overs must be played. Eventually, Sri Lanka batted in low light to complete the final three overs.
