Australia refused to play in Sri Lanka due to security fears.

In the 1996 Cricket World Cup, co-hosted by India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, a major controversy erupted when Australia and the West Indies refused to play their scheduled group matches in Sri Lanka due to security concerns. The decision came after a tragic bombing in Colombo in January 1996, which heightened fears for player safety. Despite assurances from the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Sri Lankan government, both teams chose not to travel, citing the unstable situation. As a result, Sri Lanka was awarded both matches by default, earning valuable points without playing a ball. Ironically, the controversy only fueled Sri Lanka’s determination. Under the leadership of Arjuna Ranatunga, they went on to have a dream tournament, defeating powerful teams with a fearless, attacking style of cricket. Their opening pair of Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana revolutionized one-day batting with aggressive starts, while the team’s unity and resilience became a hallmark of their campaign. Far from being weakened by the incident, Sri Lanka emerged as the ultimate champions, lifting their first-ever World Cup after defeating Australia in the final — a poetic twist given the earlier boycott. \#MomentsOfLife #MoofLife\_Moment #MoofLife #CricketHistory #WorldCup1996 #SriLankaCricket #AustraliaCricket #SecurityConcerns #SportsHistory