Flashback: Action-packed, but tainted by tragedy

Dubai: The Caribbean Islands welcomed the World Cup for the first time in 2007.

Although my journey to the islands was a long one, the tournament turned out be action packed.

Distance kept fans from most cricketing nations away and almost all matches were played in front of empty stands.

It was also a tournament in which the off-field happenings continued to take centrestage. Shane Warne set the trend in 2003 when he was banned for allegedly taking performance-enhancing drugs.

However, even more shocking was Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer's death in his hotel room in Jamaica. Questions on whether it was a murder remained the talk of the tournament since he died immediately after Pakistan's defeat to minnows Ireland.

Sixteen teams were divided into four groups and the top two teams from each group made it to a Super Eight stage. The opening ceremony at the Trelawny multipurpose stadium in Jamaica was colourful with over 2,000 dancers performing to West Indies music, especially calypso and ragga.

Australia beat South Africa in Group A, but both teams sailed to the next round. Bangladesh, coached by Dav Whatmore, was the surprise of the tournament.

They stunned India and qualified along with Sri Lanka from Group B. New Zealand and England made it from Group C, while Ireland, stunning Pakistan, qualified along with hosts West Indies from Group D. The quick exit of India and Pakistan resulted in hundreds of fans from the sub-continent cancelling their trip for the World Cup and even left press boxes empty.

Australia raced to the final riding on Glenn McGrath and Mathew Hayden's deadly form. One also got to see Sri Lankan Lasith Malinga's deadly spell of four wickets in four balls against South Africa in Guyana. A sparkling 115 by Mahela Jayawardene helped Sri Lanka breeze past New Zealand to reach the final.

In the final at Barbados, reduced to 36 overs due to rain, Adam Gilchrist hit a whirlwind 149 to ensure Australia's third successive win.