Chandigarh, September 21
Australian skipper Ricky Ponting today said that the proposal to ban the entire Pakistan team from international cricket would not solve the problem of spot fixing.

England all-rounder Sir Ian Botham had called for a ban on the Pakistan team from all forms of cricket until the spot-fixing charges against its players were not fully investigated.

Ponting, addressing a press conference after arriving here yesterday for the two-match Test series against India, categorically said that the International Cricket Council (ICC) should get to the bottom of spot-fixing allegations against the tainted players. “It certainly won’t be wise to keep Pakistan out of international cricket. Such a step will have a very big impact on the game,” said Ponting, adding that authorities should initiate quick steps to save the game from such scandals.

However, Ponting reserved his comments on the Pakistan Cricket Board hitting back at the ICC for taking action against its players.

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.

When asked if he or any of his team members had ever been approached by any bookie, Ponting said, “Our team is very well educated on that side. No such element has approached us.”