Money behind offshore Ind-WI ODIs

New Delhi: If you've been confused over the last few weeks about just where India and West Indies will face-off in September, you have every right to be.

First it was supposed to be the United States and then Canada but both of them refused to be the hosts.

And now there are rumours about Australia hosting a tri-series. So just why is the BCCI desperate to organise a tournament in September?

After the tri-series in Sri Lanka gets over there is a month long gap before the start of Champions Trophy and the Board of Control for Cricket in India wants to make the most of it.

But where will they play? According to some reports Australia have agreed to be the hosts but CNN-IBN has learnt that Singapore and Malaysia are also being discussed as possible options.

But why play at all? Why is the BCCI so desperate for this tournament to go through?

Firstly, the BCCI has sold offshore rights to Zee Sports for the next five years.

The deal is worth $900 million and covers 25 matches.

But so far, only two of those matches have been played against Pakistan at Abu Dhabi.

With $80 million at stake for every match, the stakes are very high.

But that's not the only reason.

The bankrupt West Indies Cricket Board, too, wants to extract its pound of flesh for supporting the BCCI's bid for the 2011 World Cup.

This tournament is the BCCI's return gift to their Caribbean counterparts who are desperate for cash ahead of the 2007 World Cup.

Time is short and the September window can be tricky and there are those in the BCCI who believe that January is another option to hold this series.

But one thing is almost certain that West Indies and India will play an ODI series before the World Cup next year.

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