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The 1996 Cricket World Cup semifinal, also known as the "1996 Cricket World Cup semifinal controversy," refers to a highly contentious match between India and Sri Lanka during the 1996 ICC Cricket World Cup. The match took place on March 13, 1996, at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India.

The controversy arose during India's batting innings, as the team faced a challenging chase against Sri Lanka's formidable bowling attack. India's batting lineup struggled early in the innings, losing wickets quickly and failing to build momentum. The home crowd at Eden Gardens, frustrated by India's poor performance, began to express their displeasure by throwing objects onto the field, including bottles and fruit.

As the situation escalated, the match was interrupted multiple times, and the Sri Lankan players were forced to leave the field for their safety. The match referee, Clive Lloyd, intervened and considered abandoning the match due to the crowd disturbances. However, after consultations with team captains and officials, the decision was made to resume the match under tightened security measures.

Despite the efforts to restore order, the crowd disruptions continued, and the match was eventually awarded to Sri Lanka by default. India, needing 252 runs to win, had reached 120/8 in 34.1 overs when the match was called off. As a result, Sri Lanka advanced to the final of the 1996 Cricket World Cup, where they went on to defeat Australia and claim their first-ever World Cup title.

The 1996 Cricket World Cup semifinal controversy remains one of the most infamous incidents in cricket history, tarnishing the reputation of Indian cricket and sparking debates about crowd behavior and sportsmanship. The incident prompted calls for stricter crowd control measures and highlighted the need for greater respect and discipline among cricket fans.