Mumbai cricketers need to play more long-form cricket." Sitting opposite me at the lunch table in suburban Mumbai last week was not just a Mumbai cricket lover who uttered these words, but an inter-office team boss, a recruiter of players and even a keen-as-mustard member of his team's playing XI.

My friend pointed to the month of the year and that the top tier of the Times Shield tournament which in previous years would be approaching its end, had not even begun. He was right. That's just one of the many absurdities city cricket is experiencing, either through the changing landscape of scheduling or poor administration.