Kozhikode, May 1 : Former athlete queen P T Usha said in a debate today that scantily dressed cheerleaders in the Indian Premier League should comply with Indian culture and that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will have to ensure this.

"Ours is a country with diversified culture and centuries-old tradition which have to be preserved at any cost," Usha said, adding the US-style cheergirls will have to come under scanner for any obscenity during every match.

"Cricket has come to take centrestage among all sports in the country today, and it is therefore no surprise that the organisers are adding attractions to cheer the crowd in a bid to pay value for their money," she said.

She said it is time the Cricket Board lay down a strict code of conduct for such show.

She said: "Of course, times are fast changing and we also have to adapt to them but it does not mean that we can afford any kind of vulgar display. Our actions, behaviour, speech and for that matter anything that we do should strictly comply with our culture."

"Again, it is for the BCCI to decide on the dress code in keeping with our culture and that will make matters simple and generally acceptable," she added.

ANI