Shane Warne was sent home a day before the 2003 tournament after it was revealed he had failed a drug test in the lead-up. Warne pleaded his innocence, however, and claimed he had only taken a pill to help reduce his weight on the advice of his mother.
2/8
Death of Bob Woolmer (2007)
Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer was found dead in his hotel room following his side's defeat to minnows Ireland. While local authorities declared they were opening a murder case, a jury later decided there was insufficient evidence of either a criminal act or natural causes. Conspiracy theorists still say he was killed to keep him quiet about alleged match fixing.
3/8
Final ends in darkness (2007)
With Sri Lanka given just 36 overs to reach Australia’s target because of a rain delay, the umpires suspended the game due to bad light after 33. They then incorrectly announced that the final three overs would have to be bowled the following day. Mahela Jayawardene agreed there was no need to return the following day, and instructed his team to resume batting. The last three overs were played in almost complete darkness, during which Sri Lanka added nine runs, giving Australia a 53-run victory.
4/8
Freddie’s Fredalo furore (2007)
Andrew Flintoff was stripped of the England vice-captaincy and banned for one game after he was caught commandeering a pedalo following a late-night drinking session in St Lucia. Reports suggested Flintoff had to be saved after he fell off the craft and got into difficulties in the water after England's defeat to New Zealand, though that has been denied. Five other players were also fined for drinking on the same night with James Anderson, Liam Plunkett, Jon Lewis, Ian Bell and Paul Nixon all sanctioned.
5/8
South Africa robbed by rain (1992)
South Africa's World Cup debut ended in farcical scenes when they were knocked out of the semi-finals after a rain delay. The Proteas needed 22 from the final 13 balls with four wickets in hand when the rain came. When it disappeared, the ICC's ‘highest overs scoring’ rule calculated a revised target of 22 from one ball.
6/8
Bell called back (2011)
The DRS came under scrutiny when the little-known ‘2.5-metre rule’ was applied in the dismissal of Ian Bell LBW during the group game between England and India. Bell was initially given out as the ball was shown to be clipping the stumps on review, but he was allowed to come back due to being over 2.5 metres from his stumps. The rule was subsequently scrapped.
7/8
Pakistani match-fixing? (1999)
South African cricket chief Ali Bacher claimed India and Bangladesh’s wins over Pakistan early in the tournament were fixed. Questions then arose following a hugely one-sided affair in the final, with Australia thrashing Pakistan by eight wickets.
8/8
Dead ball or not? (2015)
England’s James Taylor was denied a World Cup century when umpires incorrectly gave Jimmy Anderson out run-out when a dead-ball should have been called. Taylor’s LBW decision was reversed upon review, but Anderson was then given run-out as they tried to scramble a single. The ICC later admitted the ball should have been dead once Taylor was given out, but instead he was left stranded on 98 not out. It wouldn’t have made much of a difference to the outcome of the match, with Australia winning by 111 runs.
Yahoo Sport Australia
The Cricket World Cup is a tournament stooped in controversy. Here are the biggest scandals in World Cup history.