Match-fixing allegations have tarnished cricket's reputation: Ponting

Australian skipper Ricky Ponting on Tuesday accepting that the ongoing match-fixing imbroglio has tarnished the reputation of cricket as a 'clean sport' urged the players to maintain the clean reputation of the sport by maintaining their performances.

Ponting maintained that the only way to save the image of cricket was for players to give their honest best in performances.

"Over the past few weeks, there is no doubt that the game's image has taken a battering as a result of some of the allegations. We are going to do everything in the game between India and Australia to make sure that we play the game in the right way and to make it a spectacular watch," said Ponting.

It may be recalled that three Pakistan players - former captain Salman Butt, Mohammed Amir and Mohammed Asif - were caught on camera and accused of spot-fixing in a sting operation by a British tabloid recently.

The players were charged on September 2 under the anti-corruption code of the International Cricket Council and were provisionally suspended from all forms of cricket and related activities until the conclusion of the case.

"There have been intense battles between teams, but that is how international cricket is supposed to be. As long as players from both sides understand what is wrong and what is right, and both teams play in the right spirit of the game, what has happened in the past will be forgotten. It is just a matter of moving on and playing," said Ponting.