After Benazir, Modi second PM to hand over WC trophy

By Abdul Majid Bhatti
November 22, 2023
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi greets Australia captain Pat Cummins after handing over the ICC World Cup his side beat hosts India by 6 wickets in the final match at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India, on Sunday, November 19, 2023. Australian deputy prime minister Richard Marles also seen. —ANI
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi greets Australia captain Pat Cummins after handing over the ICC World Cup his side beat hosts India by 6 wickets in the final match at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India, on Sunday, November 19, 2023. Australian deputy prime minister Richard Marles also seen. —ANI 

ISLAMABAD: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the winning trophy to Australian captain Pat Cummins in the final of the World Cup.

This was the first time after 1996 that the ICC World Cup trophy was handed over to the winning captain by the head of a country.

In 1996 in Lahore, the then Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto presented the trophy to Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Rana Tunga.

In 1999, the ICC took the responsibility of conducting the World Cup itself. Since then the ICC president usually gave the trophy to the winning captain. After 25 years, Narendra Modi entered the ground to give the trophy. He went to the Indian dressing room and met each player individually.

According to a viral video, Narendra Modi patted India’s most successful bowler Mohammad Shami on the cheek and encouraged him. He went to each player and praised their performance. He spoke to Jasprit Bumrah in Gujarati.