When Australia won the ICC Champions Trophy title for the first time in 2006, their victory was soon forgotten as controversy erupted in the press. After Australia won the final by eight wickets, defeating the West Indies by the Duckworth and Lewis method, Australian players, notably Damien Martin, were seen pushing then BCCI president Sharad Pawar off the dais at the trophy ceremony.

This caused a big backlash in the host country, especially in Maharashtra where the NPC leader is highly respected.