Cricket has been Sri Lanka's most popular sport since the country gained independence from the British in 1948, but it was in 1996, when the men's team won the 1996 ODI World Cup, that the island's cricket gained global acclaim. Not only did Sri Lanka's aggressive batting style through the tournament influence the limited-overs game the world over, it also professionalised cricket within Sri Lanka, and helped transform the men's side into a force in international cricket.