ODI World Cup 2023: Here are all the 5 unknown fact about the Cricket World Cup Trophy

Cricket World Cup 2023: The biggest cricketing carnival is just less than a week away as the entire globe's attention shifts to India for another ICC event, the fabled and iconic ODI World Cup. What started as the Prudential Cup in 1975 is now known as the Cricket World Cup and as far as the history of the trophy goes, it is nothing but interesting. This is the 13th edition of the World Championship and the trophy went through several changes in the 1987, 1992 and the 1996 edition of the World Cup before taking its final shape in the 1999 World Cup.

There has been a lot of talks about the teams playing, the history of the tournament, the host nations and other things, but little do we know about the trophy, that is the ultimate glory. Let's deep dive and get to know things better, the trophy better.

ALSO READ | A Look At Strength And Weakness Of Buttler And Co. For ODI World Cup

When was the ODI World Cup trophy made?

(The ICC ODI World Cup in the earth's stratosphere / Image: ICC)

After the culmination of the 1996 World Cup that was won by Arjuna Ranatunga's defiant Sri Lanka, the ICC (International Cricket Council) decided to have a permanent World Cup trophy in place, just like the FIFA World Cup. The current trophy made its debut in the 1999 season and first lifted by Steve Waugh's Australia. Interestingly, between 1975 and 1996, precisely 6 editions of the ODI World Cup, four trophies made their appearances on the grandest stage of them all

The iconic design of the Cricket World Cup trophy

The ICC ODI World Cup is purely made out from silver and gold. It prominently features a globe shaped cricket ball and a seam going around it. The slant of the iconic seam represents the axial tilt of the earth further that showcases the concepts of ‘cricket’ and ‘world’. The globe is upheld by three silver columns which in many ways represent the three stumps and the basic fundamentals of cricket which are batting, bowling and fielding. The trophy is supported on a hardwood base which is used to inscribe the name of the winners.

ALSO READ | Ekana International Stadium Capacity, WC Schedule, Pitch & More

The height and weight of the Cricket World Cup trophy

(The World Cup trophy at Lord's / Image: ICC)

The current World Cup trophy which has been so iconic and symbolizes world domination was first lifted by the Australian cricket team in the year 1999. The iconic piece of silverware was designed by Paul Marsden of Garrard & Co. in London. The current trophy weighs 11 kilograms and stands 65 centimetres tall. It certainly is one of the bigger trophies presented in a multination sport as compared to various sporting disciplines. In comparison to the ICC ODI World Cup trophy, the FIFA World Cup weighs six kilograms and is 37 centimetres tall.

ALSO READ | England Announce Final 15-member Squad For ICC ODI World Cup, Include Snubbed Youngster

Do the winners take home the actual ODI World Cup trophy?

This is one burning question that has always been debated time and again. The winners of the ICC ODI World Cup take home the replica every year and the original trophy is always taken back to the ICC headquarters in the UAE. The replicas have very minor differences as compared to the original World Cup trophy. As far as the original trophy is concerned, the ICC logo is engraved on the inside of the columns on the original trophy, the replicas on the other hand are supposed to carry the event logo on the inside of the columns.

Controversies surrounding the ICC ODI World Cup trophy

(Team India celebrate their World Cup win in 2011 / Image: AP)

After Australia lifted the original trophy for the first time in 1999 a controversy struck the Australian team in 2003. After defeating India in the finals, Australia took home a World Cup trophy that looked exactly like the perpetual trophy and it is very hard to say that whether he lifted the original or the replica that year. In 2011 when Mahendra Singh Dhoni lifted the ODI World Cup, a controversy broke regarding the legitimacy of the World Cup trophy that the Indian team lifted. There were reports that the original trophy never made it out of the Mumbai customs and the world champions, India were presented a replica.