The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup was the 10th edition of the Cricket World Cup. It was played in India, Sri Lanka, and for the first time in Bangladesh. India won the tournament, defeating Sri Lanka by six wickets in the final at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, thus becoming the first country to win the Cricket World Cup final on home soil. This was the first time in World Cup history that two Asian teams had appeared in the final. It was also the first time since the 1992 World Cup that the final match did not feature Australia.
Fourteen national cricket teams took part in this tournament, including 10 full members and four associate members of the International Cricket Council (ICC). The opening ceremony was held on February 17, 2011 at Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka, and the tournament was played between February 19 and April 2, 2011. The first match was played between India and Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka.
Pakistan was also scheduled to be a co-host, but after the 2009 terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka national cricket team in Lahore, the ICC cancelled that, and the headquarters of the organizing committee, originally in Lahore, was transferred to Mumbai. Pakistan was to have held 14 matches, including one semi-final. Eight of the games (including the semi-final) were awarded to India, four to Sri Lanka, and two to Bangladesh.
Host Selection
The ICC announced on April 30, 2006, the countries that would host the 2011 World Cup. Australia and New Zealand had also bid for the tournament; if successful, they would have shared the hosting equally, leaving the location of the final still to be decided. The Trans–Tasman bid, Beyond Boundaries, was the only one delivered to the ICC headquarters in Dubai before the March 1, deadline, but the Asian bidders were granted an extension by the ICC. The New Zealand government had given assurance that Zimbabwe would be allowed to compete in the tournament, following political discussions in the country over whether their cricket team should be allowed to tour Zimbabwe in 2005.
The extra time needed for the Asian bid had weakened its prospects, but when the time came to vote, Asia won the hosting rights by ten votes to three. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) revealed that the vote of the West Indies Cricket Board was decisive, as the Asian bid had the support of South Africa and Zimbabwe as well as the four bidding countries. The Pakistani newspaper Dawn reported that the Asian countries had promised to hold fund-raising events for West Indian cricket during the 2007 World Cup, which may have influenced the vote.
Late in 2007, the four host nations agreed on a revised format for the 2011 World Cup, identical to that of the 1996 World Cup, except that there would be 14 teams instead of 12. The first round of the tournament would consist of two groups of seven teams. Each team in a group would play all the others once, and the top four from each group would qualify for the quarter-finals. This ensured that every team would play at least six matches.
In April 2009, the ICC announced that Pakistan had lost its right to co-host the 2011 World Cup because of concerns about the security situation in the country, especially in the aftermath of the 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka national cricket team in Lahore. The PCB estimated that this would lose them $10.5 million. This figure took account only of the fees of $750,000 per match guaranteed by the ICC. The overall loss to the PCB and the Pakistani economy were expected to be much greater.
On April 9, 2009 PCB chairman Ijaz Butt revealed that they had issued a legal notice to oppose ICC’s decision. The ICC, however, claimed that the PCB was still a co-host, and that they had only relocated the matches out of Pakistan. Pakistan proposed that South Asia host the 2015 World Cup and that Australia and New Zealand host the 2011 event, but this option did not find favour with their co-hosts and was not implemented.
Allocation of Matches
On April 11, 2005 PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan announced an agreement on the allocation of games, under which India would host the final, Pakistan and Sri Lanka the semi-finals, and Bangladesh the opening ceremony. After being stripped of its status as a co-host, Pakistan proposed to host its allocated games in the United Arab Emirates as a neutral venue. They had played matches in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah in the preceding months.
On April 28, 2009, however, the ICC announced that matches originally intended to be played in Pakistan would be reallocated. As a result, India hosted 29 matches across eight venues, including the final and one semi-final; Sri Lanka hosted 12 matches at three venues, including one semi-final; and Bangladesh hosted 8 matches at two grounds, as well as the opening ceremony on February 17, 2011.
On June 1, 2010 the first tranche of tickets was put on sale after a meeting of the tournament’s Central Organizing Committee in Mumbai. The cheapest tickets cost 20 US cents in Sri Lanka. In January 2011 the ICC declared the Eden Gardens ground in Kolkata, India, to be unfit and unlikely to be complete by February 27, when it was scheduled to host a match between India and England. The match was moved to Bangalore.
All the Indian stadiums for the tournament had been finalized by mid-October 2009, and those of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in late October 2009. The ICC announced all the venues in Mumbai on November 2, 2009. Two new stadiums were constructed in Kandy and Hambantota, Sri Lanka, for the event.
Qualification and Group Stage
As per ICC regulations, all 10 full members automatically qualify for the World Cup, including Zimbabwe who have given up their Test playing status until the standard of their team improves.
The ICC also organized a qualifying tournament in South Africa to determine the four Associate teams who would participate in the 2011 event. Ireland, who had been the best performing Associate nation since the last World Cup, won the tournament, beating Canada in the final. The Netherlands and Kenya also qualified by virtue of finishing third and fourth respectively. All 4 associates kept their ODI status as well as Scotland who this time failed to qualify for the World Cup.
The Group A consisted of Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Canada and Kenya. Sri Lanka qualified for the knockouts with a second-place finish in Group A. They won four of their six games, suffered a defeat against Pakistan and against Australia was washed out. Being level on points with Australia, they were placed second in the group due to their better net run rate.
Sri Lanka 332/7 (50 overs) beat Canada 122 (36.5 overs). Sri Lanka then played with Pakistan and lost, with Pakistan scoring 277/7 (50 overs) and Sri Lanka managing only 266/9 950 overs). In the third match, Kenya 142 (43.4 overs) were beaten by Sri Lanka 146/1 (18.4 overs). Sri Lanka’s match with Australia ended with no result after Sri Lanka scored 146/3 (32.5 overs). Sri Lanka amazed 327/6 (50 overs) to beat Zimbabwe 188 (39 overs). Then, Sri Lanka scored 265/9 (50 overs) and restricted New Zealand to 153 (35 overs).
In Group B, South Africa, India, England and West Indies qualified. India finished second behind South Africa. They managed wins in four of their six games, lost one against South Africa while their game against England was a high scoring tie.Both of India’s knockout matches were high-pressure contests. Australia was a strong team and the defending champions.
Road to the Final
In the first quarter-final, West Indies scored a mere 112 (43.3 overs) and Pakistan responded with 113/0 (20.5 overs) to win by 10 wickets. In the second, Australia scored 260/6(50 overs) and India responded with 261/5 (47.4 overs) to win by 5 wickets. The third saw New Zealand scoring 221/8 (50 overs) and bundling out South Africa for 172 (43.2 overs).
In the last quarter-final England scored 229/6 (50 overs) and Sri Lanka responded with 231/0(39.3 overs). Sri Lanka had clinically demolished England in the quarter final, defeating them by 10 wickets. Both the Sri Lankan openers, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Upul Tharanga made unbeaten centuries and put up a world-record stand for the first wicket in a World Cup.
In the first semi-final New Zealand scored 217 (48.5 overs) and Sri Lanka responded with 220/5 (47.5 overs) to win by 5 wickets. The New Zealand semi-final was keenly contested, but was still won with relative ease by Sri Lanka. The matches showcased the effective unconventional bowling of pace spearhead Lasith Malinga, restrictive fielding, and the batting prowess of the Sri Lankan top order.
In the second semi-final, India scored 260/9 (50 overs) to beat Pakistan 231 (49.5 overs) by 29 runs. India and their semi-final opponents, Pakistan, have historically been rivals, and there was immense public pressure on both teams with the match attended by the Prime Ministers of both countries.
World Cup Final
The final on April 2, 2011, between India and Sri Lanka saw crowning of India as the champions. A controversy developed when Kumar Sangakkara called the toss. The toss came up as heads, but the match referee Jeff Crowe did not hear the call over the crowd. It was decided that there would be a re-toss. Sangakkara called heads as the coin was spun the second time, won the re-toss and decided to bat.
Sri Lanka started the innings slowly, constrained by good bowling from Zaheer Khan and committed fielding from Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, and Virat Kohli inside the 30-yard circle. Zaheer began with three consecutive maidens and the wicket of Upul Tharanga, conceding only six runs in his five-over spell. Sri Lankan opener Tillakaratne Dilshan was bowled by Harbhajan Singh when a delivery carried on to the stumps after deflecting off his gloves.
Captain Kumar Sangakkara was building a solid foundation with Dilshan before the latter was dismissed. Mahela Jayawardene came to the crease when Sri Lanka were 60/2 in the 17th over. Sangakkara and Mahela consolidated the innings, but eventually Sangakkara was caught behind by Dhoni at 48. Then, Thilan Samaraweera was claimed by Yuvraj Singh.
Chamara Kapugedera, was caught off a deceptive slower ball by Zaheer Khan. Jayawardene continued with his quality batting, ultimately scoring 103 not out from 88 balls in a high-class batting display.
Helped by the hard-hitting of Nuwan Kulasekara and Thisara Perera, Sri Lanka scored 91 runs in the last 10 overs, including 63 in the batting power play (45–50 overs) to take the score to 274/6. Legendary spinner Muttiah Muralidaran was carrying minor injuries, but was retained. He retired from ODI cricket after the World Cup, so this was his last match.
India had a shaky start, with Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar both dismissed early by Lasith Malinga, leaving them struggling at 31/2. Sehwag was trapped LBW for a duck on the second ball of the innings. Tendulkar started with some good strokes, racing to 18 off 14 balls, but then edged a catch to wicket-keeper Sangakkara.
Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir started the recovery, taking India to 114 before Kohli was claimed by Tillakaratne Dilshan for 35. Kohli and Gambhir put together an 83-run partnership before Kohli’s dismissal. Dhoni came in after Kohli to bat at number five, and ensured there would be a right-left batting combination.
Both Gambhir and Dhoni added 109 for the fourth wicket. Gambhir tried to bring up his century with a boundary, but his heaving bat failed to connect with the ball, and he was bowled by Thisara Perera for 97. Following Gambhir’s dismissal, 52 runs were required off 52 balls. Yuvraj Singh along with Dhoni took India to victory hitting a six off Nuwan Kulasekara.
Dhoni remained unbeaten on 91 from 79 deliveries. Like in many other day-night matches in the subcontinent, dew started to form on the outfield grass in the night, making the ball damp and difficult to grip especially in the later part of India’s batting. By crossing the target of 274, India set a record for the highest successful run-chase in a World Cup final. Legendary Sachin Tendulkar was playing in his last World Cup.
Outstanding Players
India captain M. S. Dhoni was named ‘Man of the Match’ after an unbeaten, match-winning innings of 91 runs off 79 balls, including the winning stroke that won the final. India’s Yuvraj Singh was declared the ‘Man of the Tournament.’
The batting strength of Sri Lankans and Indians stood out with Tillekaratne Dilshan (500), Sachin Tendulkar (482), Kumar Sangakkara (465), Upul Tharanga (395), Gautam Gambhir (393), Virender Sehwag (380), and Yuvraj Singh (362) outstanding.
The bowling honours were shared by Shahid Afridi(Pakistan) and Zaheer Khan (India) with 21 wickets each. Tim Southee (New Zealand) secured 18 wickets whilst Robin Peterson (South Africa) and Yuvraj Singh (India) captured 15 wickets each.
Song and Mascot
The official song of the 2011 World Cup had three versions, in Bengali, Hindi and Sinhala, corresponding to the three host countries. The Hindi version “De Ghuma Ke” (Swing It Hard) was composed by the trio of Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy. It employed an array of Indian rhythms combined with elements of rock and hip hop. The Sinhala version, “Sinha Udaane,” was adapted by Sri Lankan R&B and hip hop artist Ranidu Lankage and composed by lyricist Shehan Galahitiyawa. Both songs were performed at the opening ceremony.
Stumpy, a young elephant, was the official mascot for the 2011 Cricket World Cup. He was unveiled at a function in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on April 2, 2010, and his name was revealed on August 2, 2010 after an online competition conducted by the ICC in the last week of July.
Media and Promotion
The World Cup has grown as a media event and the ICC sold the broadcasting rights for the 2011 event to ESPN Star Sports and Star Cricket for around US$2 billion. For the first time, the tournament was broadcast in high-definition format, and it was to be covered by at least 27 cameras using recent technology.
It was also shown across platforms such as online and mobile 3G. It was the first time that an ICC event had the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS).
The final was watched live by 135 million people in India, as recorded by the ratings agencies TAM and a Map, including 67.6 million Indian cable and satellite viewers. The final was watched by 13.6% of Indian TV-equipped households on average, with a peak of 21.44% at the end of the game. The official event ambassador was Sachin Tendulkar.
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