Sir — This refers to the editorial, “Makeover for cricket” (January 6). The lodha panel’s recommendation to legalise betting in cricket is rather a bold one. After all, gambling has been a part of India’s ethos since ancient times, be it theMahabharat in which the Pandavas indulged in a game of dice with the Kauravas or any Indian festival like Diwali, when people play the game of cards, just for fun.
Currently, betting in India is legal only for selective categories like lotteries and horse-racing. So, why should betting in cricket not be legalisedIJ After all, cricket is played and followed like a religion in this country. It is time that the lawmakers mull over setting up a national-level gambling regulatory authority, along the lines of the UK Gambling Commission.