DUBAI: The recently-concluded ICC World Cup 2023 became the most attended ICC event ever, the apex cricket body announced Tuesday.
A total of 1,250,307 fans passed through the turnstiles during the six-week tournament in India, with the figure toppling the previous mark of 1,016,420 spectators that attended the 2015 event in Australia and New Zealand.
“A record was on the cards when the one millionth patron attended the group stage match between South Africa and Afghanistan in Ahmedabad at the start of the month and the new mark was easily reached after more than 90,000 fans attended the thrilling final between India and Australia at Narendra Modi Stadium.
“The 2015 event remains the second most attended Cricket World Cup in history, while the 2019 edition in England and Wales attracted 752,000 fans.
The cricketing body further revealed that the ICC World Cup 2023 was not only historical in terms of the spectator count but also broke a host of broadcast and digital viewership records.
“The new high for attendees wasn’t the only record achieved during the successful 2023 World Cup, with the event also breaking a host of broadcast and digital viewership records.”
A blockbuster season of cricket came to an end on Sunday when Australia defied all the odds to outclass the unbeaten hosts India by six wickets in the ICC World Cup 2023 final to lift their sixth title.
Opening batter Travis Head, who was adjudged the Player of the Match, was the hero for the Kangaroos as he smashed a brisk century in the run chase.
The left-handed batter dominated the strong Indian bowling attack and went on to score 137 in 120 deliveries with the help of 15 boundaries and four sixes.
Head was equally supported by Marnus Labuschagne at the other end, who anchored the run chase with his gritty half-century.
Labuschagne carried his bat all the way through to an unbeaten 58 in 110 deliveries, hitting four boundaries.
Put into bat first in the ICC World Cup 2023 final, Australian pacers dismantled the mighty Indian batting unit and consequently restricted the hosts to a modest 240.
Mitchell Starc led the sizzling Australian bowling attack with 3/55, followed by fellow pacers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, who bagged two each.