MUMBAI: That the Indian Premier League is undoubtedly the biggest cricket and television property in the country is a given. However, what is also given is the fact that the tournament?s image has been severely dented due to allegations of spot fixing and match fixing.

As per the ?IPL 2012 Public Perception Survey?, which was conducted from 4-9 June by leading digital media company Yahoo! India, over 68.9 per cent respondents believe that IPL players are involved in fixing matches while 57.3 per cent believe that Indian players are also involved in unholy nexus.

The survey conducted on Yahoo! Cricket saw participation from 18,537 respondents.

The respondents also feel that IPL players are overpaid with almost 79.1 per cent respondents echoing that the IPL cricketers are paid more than what they actually deserve.

The survey throws up even more damaging findings with 66.6 per cent respondents saying that cricketers receive ?under the table? payments to play the game, while 14.4 per cent disagreeing with that notion. About 19 per cent respondents were unaware of the subject.

However, it?s not all gloom and doom for the IPL as 61.5 per cent respondents believe that the IPL format has had a positive effect on Indian cricket.

The respondent have also given thumbs down to IPL team owners with 60.1 per cent saying that the high-profile owners should rather low profile during or after. However, 36 per cent respondents also feel that team owners should be allowed to enter the stadia premises.

Should former IPL chairman Lalit Modi ever make a comeback to run the IPL show again? Well, the opinion is sharply divided with only 37.5 per cent in favor of the maverick cricket administratior?s return while a majority of 48.2 per cent are not in favour of his return.

More than half of the respondents also feel that IPL is responsible for players getting exposed to injuries.

Furthermore, the respondents were against cricketers skipping tests and ODI?s to play the IPL matches, with a whopping 92 per cent majority voting against players favouring clubs over country.

Respondents were also in favour of introducing the popular concept of player loaning similar to basketball, baseball, soccer and other sports with 41.5 per cent favouring such a rule in IPL. 56.5 per cent people are in favour of two strategic time-outs in every IPL innings.

The commentators have also been lauded by fans with 44.9 per cent thinking that cricket commentators have overall done a good job in IPL 2012.

Ravi Shastri takes the crown as the best commentator with 30.5 per cent majority, followed by Harsha Bhogle per cent and Danny Morrison 18.4 per cent.

Navjot Singh Sidhu 34.4 per cent, Ajay Jadeja 11.7 per cent, and Rameez Raja 9.8 per cent are voted as the least popular commentators this season.

MUMBAI: Infotainment channel History TV18 and news channel CNN IBN have announced the judges for the initiative ?The Greatest Indian?.

The show format is based on a ground breaking series featured on BBC called ?The Greatest Briton?. The initiative will look to answer the question of who the greatest Indian is and what does it take to be called ?Great?? The parties had formally announced the initiative in February.

The first phase of initiative comprises a jury selecting some of the Greatest Indians who have shaped the nation. The jury comprises personalities like N. Ram (former Editor-In-Chief of The Hindu), Vinod Mehta (Editor-in-Chief of Outlook), Soli Sorabjee (Former Attorney General of India), Sharmila Tagore (Bollywood actress and former Chairperson of the Censor Board of India), Harsha Bhogle (sports) and Chetan Bhagat (author).

The jury would be entrusted the task of limiting the poll list to 50 Great Indians out of a preeminent list of such 100 super achievers. The list of 50 will then be released for a nationwide poll curtain raiser on 4 July by CNN IBN Editor in Chief Rajdeep Sardesai.

MUMBAI: Ten Sports will be telecating live and exclusive the Nokia Champions League T20 in Pakistan.

ESPN Star Sports, the global commercial rights holder of the Nokia Champions League T20, has awarded the broadcast rights for the Pakistan territory to Zee-controlled Taj Television, the company that owns and operates Ten Sports.

The tournament takes place from 19 September to 9 October.

Taj Television CEO Atul Pande said, "We are extremely happy to acquire the rights for one of the most fascinating T20 Leagues in the world. Top cricket clubs from around the world, comprising top rated T20 players, will compete in this month-long tournament. Ten Sports will be telecasting all the 29 matches live and exclusive for viewers in Pakistan."

ESS senior VP, corporate development/cricket rights Anurag Dahiya said, "We are delighted to partner Ten Sports to showcase the Nokia Champions League Twenty20 in a passionate cricketing nation and major powerhouse in the sport. Cricket fans in Pakistan can look forward to our world-class production and presentation package, having lined-up many innovative production initiatives and our specialist commentary team of international cricketing legends and experts from top cricket-playing nations for all the matches."

ESS? coverage of the Nokia Champions League Twenty20 includes a line-up of cricket experts consisting of Harsha Bhogle, Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri, Kepler Wessels, HD Ackerman, Ian Chappell, Tom Moody, Ian Bishop and Alan Wilkins.

The start of the main tournament will be preceded by a qualifier for the first time from which three teams will progress to the main round to compete with seven others. The qualifiers will be held in Hyderabad between September 19 and 21, while the main tournament will be spread across three cities - Chennai, Bangalore and Kolkata.