2003 – Olonga & Flower's Brave Protest

2003: Henry Olonga and Andy Flower defied Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwean regime by wearing black armbands to mourn "the death of democracy" during the World Cup. Their silent yet powerful protest became one of the most significant political statements in sports history. The duo faced exile and international retirement after the tournament, but their act of defiance remains an enduring symbol of courage.

2003 – Namibia's ODI Debut

2003: Namibia played their first-ever ODI during the Flower-Olonga protest match. Craig Wishart's unbeaten 172 off 151 balls set a new record for a Zimbabwe batsman. Rain adjusted Namibia's chase from 341 in 50 overs to 191 in 25.1, but they managed only 104 runs. This match marked the start of their World Cup campaign, where they played five more games but failed to win any, and they haven't played an ODI since.

2000 – Pakistan’s Epic Chase at Hobart

2000: Pakistan pulled off a stunning run chase of 369 in Hobart against Australia, thanks to an unbeaten 334-run partnership between Inzamam-ul-Haq (142*) and Yousuf Youhana (153*). Their masterclass against a strong Australian bowling attack remains one of Pakistan’s greatest Test victories.

1999 – Kumble’s 10-Wicket Haul

1999: Anil Kumble became only the second bowler in Test history to take all 10 wickets in an innings, achieving the feat against Pakistan at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi. His magical spell of 10 for 74 helped India secure a famous win and cemented his legacy as one of the game's greatest spinners.

1998 – Tendulkar’s 'Desert Storm'

1998: Sachin Tendulkar played one of the most iconic innings in ODI history, smashing 143 against Australia in Sharjah despite a sandstorm interruption. This innings, along with his 134 in the final two days later, helped India win the Coca-Cola Cup and reinforced his status as the best batsman in the world.

1997 – England’s Rare Away Test Win

1997: England ended a ten-match overseas winless streak with a dominant victory over New Zealand in Wellington. Darren Gough and Andy Caddick shared 15 wickets between them, while Graham Thorpe scored his second consecutive century. England took control from the first day, when New Zealand collapsed to 56 for 6, and never looked back.

1996 – Sri Lanka's Maiden World Cup Triumph

1996: Sri Lanka stunned the cricketing world by winning their first-ever ICC Cricket World Cup. Led by Arjuna Ranatunga, the team defeated Australia in the final, with Aravinda de Silva’s all-round brilliance (107* & 3 wickets) guiding them to glory. The victory marked the rise of Sri Lanka as a cricketing powerhouse.

1994 – Lara’s Record 375

1994: Brian Lara broke the long-standing record for the highest individual score in Test cricket, scoring 375 against England in Antigua. His marathon innings surpassed Gary Sobers’ 365* and showcased his extraordinary batting prowess.

1993 – Warne's 'Ball of the Century'

1993: Shane Warne bowled the ‘Ball of the Century’ to Mike Gatting in the Ashes at Old Trafford. The delivery pitched outside leg stump and clipped the off-stump, leaving Gatting completely bewildered. It was the start of Warne’s legendary career and remains one of the most famous deliveries in cricket history.

1992 – Lawrence’s Career-Ending Injury

1992: England fast bowler David Lawrence suffered a horrific career-ending injury during his 100th Test against New Zealand. While delivering a ball, he fractured his kneecap and collapsed in agony, with the cracking sound echoing around the stadium like a gunshot. His international career ended on that tragic day, and although he attempted a first-class comeback in 1997, he never played for England again.

1991 – South Africa’s Return to International Cricket

1991: After years of isolation due to apartheid, South Africa played their first international match in over two decades, facing India in an ODI in Kolkata. This historic match marked the beginning of South Africa's reintegration into world cricket.

1987 – India & Pakistan Share the Asia Cup

1987: Due to bad weather in Bangladesh, the Asia Cup final between India and Pakistan was abandoned, resulting in both teams being declared joint winners. This was the only instance in tournament history where two teams shared the trophy.

1986 – Miandad’s Last-Ball Six

1986: Javed Miandad etched his name in cricketing folklore by hitting a last-ball six off Chetan Sharma to win the Austral-Asia Cup final against India in Sharjah. His unbeaten 116 led Pakistan to an unforgettable victory.

1984 – India Wins the First Asia Cup

1984: India won the inaugural Asia Cup held in Sharjah, defeating Sri Lanka and Pakistan in a round-robin format. Surinder Khanna was the hero, scoring two match-winning fifties in the tournament.

1983 – India's World Cup Triumph

1983: Kapil Dev led India to their maiden World Cup victory, defeating the mighty West Indies in the final at Lord’s. His iconic 175* against Zimbabwe in the group stage and Mohinder Amarnath’s all-round performance in the final were key moments in India’s historic win.

1981 – Lillee's Record & Spat with Gavaskar

1981: Dennis Lillee surpassed Richie Benaud's then-record 248 Test wickets for Australia but got involved in an ugly spat with Sunil Gavaskar in the third Test against India. The incident nearly led to Gavaskar walking off the field with his batting partner, threatening an early end to the match. The drama continued as Australia collapsed for just 83 in their second innings, with Kapil Dev taking 5 for 28 despite battling a thigh injury.

1979 – Yallop's Lone Resistance

1979: Graham Yallop scored 121 out of Australia's 198 against England in Sydney, making up 61.11% of the team's total—one of the highest individual contributions in Test history. However, his efforts couldn’t prevent a crushing nine-wicket defeat, and he was soon replaced as captain.