1996 saw the return of the World Cup to the sub-continent, with Sri Lanka also joining in as a co-host. A quiz on the sixth edition of One Day cricket's marquee event, an event that saw a new champion yet again.
Questions:1. The title sponsor of the 1996 World Cup was a Kolkata-headquartered corporate giant. What was the event called and who was the sponsor?
2. Can you recall the tag-line and slogan of the mega-event held seven years back?
3. In context of the 1996 World Cup, what were PILCOM and ICON '96?
4. The 1996 event was an expanded one with 12 countries taking part. There were three debutants — one each from Asia, Africa and Europe. Name them.
5. The 1996 World Cup saw the official mascot take the field in green pads, blue helmet, white shoes and yellow bat. What was it called and why so?
6. The opening ceremony on February 11, 1996 at Eden Gardens was an eminently forgettable one and a classic example of mediocrity beamed around the world. Name the company that was in-charge of the `grand' show?
7. What distinction of varying nature did Holland's Nolan Clarke and Pakistan's Javed Miandad achieve?
8. There was a big controversy before the Cup began, with two countries refusing to play in Sri Lanka because of security reasons. The teams however went on to qualify for the last four. Which are the nations?
9. Kenya, one of the rookies of the Cup, had mixed memories of its trip. On one hand, it dismissed a former champion for less than a 100 to register a great upset, while on the other it was swamped by the highest team score ever in a one-dayer. Name the two opponents.
10. What were the memorable contributions of Garrad Jewel Company and Arun Industries?
11. The highest individual score and the highest aggregate of runs by a batsman in a single World Cup was set in the 1996 edition. Name the players.
12. Family business. When Australia played Kenya at Visakhapatnam, what unique record was set?
13. The match of the Cup for many Indians was the quarterfinal against ol' enemy Pakistan at Bangalore and the most memorable moments being Ajay Jadeja's assault on Waqar Younis and Aamir Sohai's verbal duel with Venkatesh Prasad. However India's win was set up by a man-of-the match innings of 93 by the one who is now the `passionate voice' of Indian cricket. Name the player.
14. India's run came to an end in the semifinal when crowd disturbance, in the wake of the host's sensational collapse, forced officials to declare the match as abandoned and award the tie to Sri Lanka on run-rate. Name the Match Referee, a former Cup-winning captain, who brought an end to not only India's hopes but also to an atrocious, pathetic exhibition of behaviour from the Kolkata crowd.
15. The final, held under lights at Lahore, saw the `Lankan Lions' become the first pack to chase in a final and win. Who won the Man of the Match, his fourth of the event, for his unbeaten century and who hit the winning runs?
Answers:1. Wills World Cup, named after a brand of ITC Limited.
2. The tag-line was `Share The Magic' and the slogan read `Cricket for Harmony'.
3. PILCOM (Pakistan India Lanka Committee) was the organiser of the event, while ICON '96 was the communication and computer database backbone, set up by PUNCOM, that ensured dissemination of data of every kind.
4. UAE, Kenya and Holland.5. Googlee, the cricket ball, conceived as a tribute to leg spinners. It was created by Hindustan Thompson Associates (now J. Walter Thompson).
6. An Italian company called Half Moon Image Consultants.
7. Clarke became the oldest player to feature in a World Cup match (47 years, 257 days), while Miandad became the only player to feature in six World Cups and also set the mark for most number of Cup appearances, 33 (a record since equalled by Steve Waugh).
8. Australia and the West Indies.9. West Indies (93 all out) and Sri Lanka (398 for five).
10. The London-based Garrads made the 114 year old, 28-inch silver trophy given to the champion, while Arun Industries was contracted to design prizes for the runners-up and man-of-the-match awards.
11. Gary Kirsten (188*) and Sachin Tendulkar (523 runs in seven matches).
12. Three pairs of brothers took the field. They were Mark & Steve Waugh (Australia), Steve & David Tikolo and Maurice & Edward Odumbe (Kenya).
13. Navjot Singh Sidhu.14. Clive Lloyd.15. Aravinda de Silva (107*) and the wily captain, Arjuna Ranatunga. Incidentally Sri Lanka is the only host to have won the cup.
— Compiled by V. V. Ramanan
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