ICC World Cup: About the Tournament
The 2015 edition of the World Cup will be held from February 14 to March 29.
The ICC Cricket World Cup is the showcase event of the international cricket calendar and takes place every four years, with matches contested in a 50-over format. It is the biggest prize is ODIs.
The 2015 edition will be the 11th and is being hosted by New Zealand and Australia. Both the countries had earlier co-hosted the 1992 edition.
The World Cup is one of the world's largest international sports tournaments. Fourteen teams are taking part and will clash for the right to be World Champions.
The first edition took place in England in 1975 which was won by the West Indies. The most recent event was held in 2011 which was won by India, who hosted the tournament along with Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Australia have won it four times (1987, 1999, 2003, 2007) - the most by any team. West Indies (1975, 1979) and India (1983, 2011) have two titles apiece while Pakistan (1992) and Sri Lanka (1996) have one each.
World Cup champions and runners-up
| Year | Host Nation(s) | Final Venue | Winner | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | England | Lord's Cricket Ground, London | West Indies | Australia |
| 1979 | England | Lord's Cricket Ground, London | West Indies | England |
| 1983 | England | Lord's Cricket Ground, London | India | West Indies |
| 1987 | India and Pakistan | Eden Gardens Kolkata | Australia | England |
| 1992 | Australia, New Zealand | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne | Pakistan | England |
| 1996 | India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore | Sri Lanka | Australia |
| 1999 | England | Lord's Cricket Ground, London | Australia | Pakistan |
| 2003 | South Africa, Kenya and Zimbabwe | Wanderers, Johannerburg | Australia | India |
| 2007 | West Indies | Kensington Oval, Bridgetown | Australia | Sri Lanka |
| 2011 | Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | India | Sri Lanka |
| 2015 | Australia and New Zealand | Melbourne Cricket Ground | Australia | New Zealand |