Legalise betting in cricket, says Farooq Abdullah

Betting in cricket should be legalised, union Renewable Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah said here Tuesday said while coming out in defence of cricket board president N. Srinivasan.

"If betting is legal elsewhere why shouldn't it be legalised in India as well," the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and ruling National Conference patron told reporters on the sidelines of an event in Ganderbal.

He came out in strong defence of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president N. Srinivasan, whose son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan has been arrested for his alleged involvement in spot fixing Indian Premier League matches. Meiyappan is chief of the Chennai Super Kings team.

"Tomorrow, if my son-in-law is found involved in something why should I be blamed," Abdullah asked amid rising speculation over whether Srinivasan would quit.

Abdullah, a member of the BCCI, said the present structure of the board should continue.

Asked whether he would like to head the BCCI, he said: "No, I am now too old for that."

Several bookies as well as three Rajasthan Royals players, including S. Sreesanth, have been arrested for their alleged involvement in spot fixing.