It was a passing thought that suddenly hit itself against reality. India plays back to back matches in the ICC Twenty 20 on Saturday and Sunday while other teams have not started their first game. Odd. Very odd. But then, even the World Cup itinerary is slave to the bottomline and the bottomline is ruled by India. The advertiser wants the maximum bang for his buck so that means India must watch. So both matches are played on the weekend. And then look at the timing. It is exquisitely designed to have a billion people at home comfortably ensconced on their couches to watch India play Afghanistan and South Africa.

Coincidence?  Not that I believe in those but to be fair money is money and the rich kid calls the shots. The sponsors want eyeballs and India gives it to them. Seeing as to how other teams have two to three days break why only this weekend aberration. Why has the BCCI not even bothered to question the lack of rest time?

The point then is what if India has a fight on its hands against Afghanistan and is tired. In a few hours it is back again to play South Africa who are no pushovers. Now, if they lose the second match because they did not have time to recover the final analysis makes a mockery of the tournament and the orchestrated planning that goes into it.  Indict me for stating the obvious but the money factor beats the game factor and that is certainly not cricket. In fact, as an Indian I am offended.

If the organisers can manoeouvre the fixtures for maximum benefit even at the risk of forcing a side to play a World Cup two on a trot then the next logical step is that perhaps in something as ‘entertaining’ as Twenty20 why can’t we do the whole nine yards and ensure India gets into the finals (some of you would say, well, that already happens, fixing, I mean). The last time around when India made a dog’s breakfast of things the advertisers and sponsors were robbed of viewership. Without India it is like a chicken pie with no chicken in it.

In a quick study I have noticed that no other sport at the global level makes one team play back to back. The FIFA World Cup which is around the corner has no soccer match scheduled for a country in a 24 hour span. Yet India will play within 16 hours. And both times in the early segment so that life is beautiful.

To ensure even more coverage the May 2 billing includes Pakistan and Bangladesh so it is truly bonanza time. Now, convince me this was not planned, it just happened.

Sure, I hear you, it is only Afghanistan in the first match.. In that lies the rub. The odds are India will have wiped the floor with them by the time you read this but have you noticed how cleverly they have been built up as great challengers, not because of the political turmoil in the country but because it camouflages the fact that they are the weakest of the four minnows as they are so rudely called. Ireland, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe are tougher opponents all far more capable of dumping India before Round Two and making the advertisers so unhappy. So, guess who is in the Indian group? Oh no, it was a fair and square draw. I buy that.