 The Game of Love and Unity | |
| Dates | 13 March – 28 April 2007 |
|---|---|
| Administrator(s) | International Cricket Council |
| Cricket format | One Day International |
| Tournament format(s) | Round-robin and Knockout |
| Host(s) |  West Indies |
| Champions |  Australia (4th title) |
| Runners-up |  Sri Lanka |
| Participants | 16 (from 97 entrants) |
| Matches | 51 |
| Attendance | 672,000 (13,176 per match) |
| Player of the series | Glenn McGrath |
| Most runs | Matthew Hayden (659) |
| Most wickets | Glenn McGrath (26) |
The 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup was the ninth Cricket World Cup, a One Day International (ODI) cricket tournament that took place in the West Indies from 13 March to 28 April 2007. There were a total of 51 matches played, three fewer than at the 2003 World Cup (despite a field larger by two teams).
The 16 competing teams were initially divided into four groups, with the two best-performing teams from each group moving on to a Super 8 format. Every team played a total of 6 matches in the Super 8 round; they didn't played with teams of their own group. They played a total of 6 teams from another three groups (the top 2 teams of all three groups) From this, Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and South Africa won through to the semi-finals, with Australia defeating Sri Lanka in the final to win their third consecutive World Cup and their fourth overall. Australia's unbeaten record in the tournament increased their total to 29 consecutive World Cup matches without loss, a streak dating back to 23 May 1999, during the group stage of the 1999 World Cup. The tournament also saw upsets and surprise results, with pre-tournament favourites India and Pakistan failing to make it past the group stage, while Bangladesh, the second-lowest ranked ICC Full Member at the time, and World Cup debutant Ireland, which was an ICC Associate Member at the time, made it to the "Super 8", beating India and Pakistan respectively en route. Ireland became only the second associate nation to make it past the first round of a Cricket World Cup, the first being Kenya in 2003.
Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer died the day after Pakistan was knocked out. The following day, police announced that the death was suspicious and ordered a full investigation.[1][2] Eight months later, an open verdict was returned.[3]
Following the tournament, the ICC distributed surplus tournament revenues of US$239 million to its members.[4]
- ^ "Woolmer's post-mortem inconclusive". CricInfo. 20 March 2007. Retrieved 23 March 2007.
- ^ "Woolmer's death 'suspicious' – police". CricInfo. 21 March 2007. Retrieved 23 March 2007.
- ^ Police close Woolmer case after open verdict ABC, 30 November 2007
- ^ ICC Consolidated Financial Statements for the 9 months ended 31 December 2007, accounting note 12.