1996 Cricket World Cup in Indian Subcontinent

The 1996 Cricket World Cup marked the second occasion that the tournament was hosted in the Indian subcontinent, with Sri Lanka joining India and Pakistan as a co-host. This edition of the World Cup was notable for the inclusion of Sri Lanka as a host for several group stage matches, which allowed the nation to showcase its cricketing facilities and culture. The tournament featured a total of 12 teams, competing in a format that included group stages followed by knockout rounds. Sri Lanka's performance throughout the tournament was impressive, culminating in a semi-final match against India at Eden Gardens. In this match, India struggled significantly, losing eight wickets while attempting to chase a target of 252 runs. The situation escalated when crowd unrest erupted due to India's poor performance, leading to the match being awarded to Sri Lanka by default, a decision that highlighted the intense emotions surrounding cricket in the region.