SPORTS
Australia captain Ricky Ponting said, 'It is important that ICC gets to the bottom of these allegations as quickly as possible. The sooner the issue is dealt with the better it will be for the game of cricket.'
Australian captain Ricky Ponting today said cricket has taken a "battering" after spot-fixing allegations against Pakistan team came to light and the ICC should get to the bottom of the allegations quickly.
"No doubt the game has taken a battering as a result of these allegations ... the game can't afford to have any sort of these allegations. That's one thing the game can't stand," Ponting said at a press conference after arriving here yesterday for the two-match Test series against India.
"It is important that ICC gets to the bottom of these allegations as quickly as possible. The sooner the issue is dealt with the better it will be for the game of cricket. If there are players who are involved in anything like that (alleged spot-fixing) then they need to be dealt in an appropriate manner," he said.
World cricket plunged into its deepest-ever crisis last month after spot-fixing allegations led to the suspension of three Pakistani players -- Test captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir.
Ponting, however, was not in favour of banning the whole of Pakistan team, saying that will not solve the problem.
"We need to have a strong Pakistan team playing international cricket as well as for betterment of the game. To keep Pakistan out of international cricket or the World Cup will have a bigger affect on everything," he said.
He said Australia and India need to play "best brand of cricket" to portray the game in good light amid the crisis the world cricket has been facing," he said.
"It is important to stand up and have some positive things being said about the game of cricket," Ponting said.
On Pakistan Cricket Board hitting back at the ICC and the England Cricket Board, Ponting refused comment saying that the investigations were going on.
Asked if any Aussie player had been approached by any bookie in the past, Ponting said, "The Australian team is very well educated on that side. We haven't been approached by anyone. We are briefed very well by our team management from time to time regarding the do's and dont's and what's acceptable and what's not acceptable."
Australia-India series have traditionally been stormy affairs in the past with on-field controversies grabbing headlines. Ponting said the rivalry has built over the years and as long as players don't cross the line, some banter only adds zing to the contests.
"(It's OK) as long as players play in the right spirit. I think there have been intense moments, but that's the way international cricket has been. As long as both sides understand what's right and what's wrong and play in the right spirit of the game, things should be fine. And what's happened in the past will be forgotten," Ponting said.
Ponting said Australia would look to reclaim the number one Test spot and a good performance against India in the two-match Test series which starts at Mohali on October 1 was an important step in that direction.
"Of course ranking does matter. At the moment, we are ranked number four and are playing against top ranked team in the world. We want to get back to the top of the table and we have a lot of things to do to make sure we reach there," he said.
"It's a great challenge for us to come here. Certainly, we want to play against best teams and with this current group of players we are touring with we hope we can be very competitive over the next couple of weeks and months," he added.
The Australian skipper said the current tour to India in which they are also to play an ODI series should put his team in good shape ahead of the Ashes and the 2011 World Cup.
Ponting has come with an inexperienced bowling side here but he felt that the series would be a hard fought one.
"We've got what we got as far as our bowling attack is concerned. Certainly, there is hard work for the fast bowlers under the Indian conditions. But as I said we've got what we have got. There are inexperienced guys and guys who are working their way back from the injury. I am very excited with prospects of the quicker guys we have got.. Peter George and James Pattinson," he said.
Ponting was all praise for spinner Nathan Hauritz, saying "actually, he has developed into a very good international cricketer over the last 12 months. He was the guy who came into the side with ODI background. We had to work hard to develop his Test bowling. He has played at Mumbai earlier and will relish playing under Indian conditions".
He admitted he does not have the finest memories in India as he has not enjoyed much personal success here but said the last Test series was closely fought and his team's ODI record in this part of the world was "exceptional" and "we would like to build on that".
"I have always enjoyed playing cricket in India, although I haven't got as much success as I would have liked, but as a group we are excited at the upcoming series," he said.
Cristiano Ronaldo sends heartfelt retirement message to former Real Madrid teammate Marcelo Viera
Jeet Adani, Diva Shah are now married! Here's why their wedding was more than a mere celebration
IIT-BHU student gets highest package of Rs..., average package in 2025 is...
Music composer Anu Malik sells two Mumbai flats in Santacruz West for Rs..., co-owner is...
Jeet Adani and Diva Shah are now married; video of varmala ceremony goes viral, WATCH
Jeet Adani-Diva Shah wedding: Gautam Adani shares first pics of son's wedding, see here
Can Kejriwal win prestige battle? What are the key factors that dominated Delhi assembly polls 2025?
Subhash Ghai makes big investment, buys plush 4BHK apartment in Mumbai for...
Metovalex App Review 2025: Legit Or Scam Trading AI? - Real User Facts!
Deepinder Goyal's Zomato rebranded Eternal: Everyone has the same question
Thief gifts Rs 3cr house to girlfriend, everyone shocked after...
Who is Meghnad S? YouTuber and journalist who contested Delhi assembly polls 2025 from...
Does Sanya Malhotra's 'Mrs' promote a no-marriage culture among women?
BIG blow to Sundar Pichai as Google loses Rs 17501260000000 due to…
Caring for Ageing Parents? Essential tips to manage health, finances, and well-being
Meet Gautam Adani’s daughter-in-law Paridhi Adani: Know about her assets, career, family, and more
Jeet Adani-Diva Shah wedding: Inside pics from Gautam Adani's son's wedding festivity
Why has Premanand Maharaj stopped his morning yatras at 2 am?
Sonu Sood BREAKS SILENCE on arrest warrant against him in fraud case: 'It is sad that celebs...'
Akshata Murty once confronted her father and Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy: 'My real dad is...'
Meet Alexis Wilkins, Trump's FBI chief pick Kash Patel's 'mystery girlfriend,' her profession is...
Fire breaks out at Mahakumbh Nagar camp, officials say no casualties reported so far
Who is Mohini Mohan Datta, mystery man set to get Rs 500 crore through Ratan Tata's will?
Cristiano Ronaldo makes shocking statement, breaks Portugal's hearts: 'I never thought about...'
Ludhiana court issues arrest warrant against Sonu Sood in fraud case
Happy Rose Day 2025: Significance of different coloured roses on Day 1 of Valentine's week
Salman Khan REVEALS why he avoids eating beef and pork: 'Main maanta hu meri maa...'
Shah Rukh Khan-Saif Ali Khan vs Aryan Khan-Ibrahim Khan: Who should be in KHNH2!
Why Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu gifted Donald Trump golden pager? It is a reference to...
Mob in Bangladesh destroys ousted PM Sheikh Hasina's family home
ISRO's EOS-06 satellite captures Phytoplankton concentration on global scale
IND vs ENG: Will Virat Kohli play in 2nd ODI vs England? Shubman Gill provides huge injury update
Who is Kiran Chaudhury? PCS officer caught in bribe case, just 4 years after posting
Jeet Adani-Diva Shah's wedding today: Know venue, gifts for guests and more
Meet woman, who works in Rs 163000 crore company, daughter of Hyderabad’s richest man
This is world's greenest railway station, 170 years old, home to over 7,000 plants, it's in....
As Sky Force nears Rs 150 crore, Nimrat Kaur treats househelp, her kids with movie screening
IND vs ENG: Shreyas Iyer creates history, becomes first player to achieve THIS massive milestone
Meet man, India's richest banker, who has bought Rs 202 crore property, his net worth is Rs...
'Heard there was....': Former India head coach provides major update on Virat Kohli's injury
A New Geopolitical Era: India and Israel's Role in the Evolving Middle East
David Warner’s touching moment with fans after Dubai Capitals reaches final of DP World ILT20
India’s Largest Book Stall Network: PrashantAdvait Foundation’s Mission to Revive Reading Culture