When was the first Cricket World Cup held?

The first Cricket World Cup was held in 1975. It was known as the Prudential Cup, named after its sponsor Prudential plc. The tournament was organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and was held in England from June 7 to June 21, 1975.

The inaugural Cricket World Cup featured a total of eight teams: 

England, Australia, West Indies, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and East Africa (a combined team representing Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia). The matches were played in a 60-over-per-side format, which was later changed to the standard 50-over format that we are more familiar with today.

The West Indies emerged as the champions of the first Cricket World Cup by defeating Australia in the final held at Lord's Cricket Ground in London.

Since then, the Cricket World Cup has become one of the most prestigious and anticipated events in the cricketing calendar, with editions taking place approximately every four years (with some exceptions).