"Nonsense!"

"It makes perfect sense."

"You are implying that ICC gave India the World Cup in exchange of a tax rebate?"

"Not just that. If India wins, everybody wins. If we had lost along the way, interest in the event would have waned. Several sponsors would have become less charitable. Future tournaments would have been affected. India winning means a huge boost for cricket commerce worldwide. It helps Pawar, it also helps the IPL."

"Wow! And here I thought I was the journalist."

"You're a deskie for God's sake! But I wish the final game was a little more interesting.
I had dozed off halfway through the Sri Lankan innings. I only woke up after Sehwag and Sachin had gone."

"You missed Mahela's innings! Dude, it was awesome!"

"Whatever. But it was nothing like the India-Pakistan match."

"For the first time we had three Asian teams in the semis and two in the final."

"Yeah. Time for Bangladesh to step up!"

"Anyway, I thought the whole tournament was fixed! How did you find it interesting at all?"

"I still watch WWE dude. I just want ICC and BCCI to come clean."

"Oh yeah! You need help, my friend. But Pakistan did remarkably well. I mean, they were the only team from the subcontinent not to have any home advantage. And despite all the tumult at home, they made it to the semis."

"What about the statements that Afridi has made before the Pak media?"

"I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. He was just playing to the gallery."

"Forget about Pak. Will South Africa, New Zealand or England ever go all the way?"

"Well, World Cup 2015 will be played Down Under. So, England have a really good chance."

"Dude, they only do well in the Ashes. They were walloped by the Aussies in the recent ODI series."

"Enough talk. Let's go out and have a few hits."

"OK! I'll be India, you be Sri Lanka."

"So I get to bat first?"

"Umm ufffd"

u00a0