How the host nation fared in each ODI World Cup

#6 India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, 1996

Although Sri Lanka, the eventual champions of this tournament were one of the co-hosts along with India and Pakistan, they played only 2 games at home, while the games against Australia and West Indies were awarded to them, but both teams refused to visit the strife-hit country. Sri Lanka topped Group A, while co-hosts India finished third. On the other hand, in Group B, defending champions Pakistan lost only 1 game against South Africa and finished 2nd in their group to get through to the quarter-finals.

The big two, India and Pakistan, met in the quarter-finals at Bengaluru and in that famous game, India prevailed to set up a semi-final clash against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

Sri Lanka had earlier flattened England in their quarter-final game at Faisalabad. In the semi-final, Sri Lanka destroyed India and the match was abandoned due to crowd trouble after the favourites had been reduced to 120 for 8 in response to Sri Lanka's 251. Sri Lanka faced Australia in the final and famously beat the favourites yet again to complete a remarkable triumph at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. They were only technically one of the hosts and in fact, played all their knockout games outside Sri Lanka.