IPL - The League of Controversies

Now characterised by three Cs - cash, cricket and controversies - the IPL has hogged the limelight for the wrong reasons, be it allegations of match-fixing or cricketers slapping each other or the unceremonious sacking of its creator Lalit Modi.

The inaugural edition of the cricketing jamboree will perhaps be remembered more for the 'slapgate' involving Kings XI Punjab pacer S. Sreesanth and Mumbai Indians' offie Harbhajan Singh.

The video footage - the pacer sobbing and his teammates consoling him - became one of the long-lasting images of the opening edition. As a fallout, Harbhajan was suspended for the remaining 11 matches.

Former IPL commissioner Modi saw the dice turn against him in 2010 when he was sacked following charges of financial irregularities. He left the country for London and has stayed there since.

Also, match-fixing allegations surfaced last year after a sting operation conducted by a news channel claimed to have uncovered shady deals between team owners, players and management.

As if the banning of players, team owners and official was not enough, the IPL in 2011 got rid of a franchise - Kochi Tuskers Kerala - to end its turbulent one-year stint which also saw a minister quitting the union cabinet after allegations of his involvement in the side's entry into the league.

The sleazier side of the IPL came to the fore during the after-parties, as the celebrities and Page 3 people joined cricketers with food, wine and revelry flowing freely.

But the sleazy affair was discontinued after South African cheerleader Gabriella Pasqualotto, in her tell-all blog, described cheergirls as "walking porn" and certain cricketers as "naughty".

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