International Cricket Council chief executive Haroon Lorgat says 'prompt and decisive action' will be taken against anyone found guilty of match-fixing.
As cricket yet again faces a match-fixing scandal after Pakistan players Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were questioned by police over claims they took bribes to intentionally bowl no-balls and fix matches, the man charged with running the sport's governing body said cricket's reputation needed to be protected.
"Make no mistake, once the process is complete, if any players are found to be guilty, the ICC will ensure that the appropriate punishment is handed out. We will not tolerate corruption in this great game," Lorgat said on Monday.
"The integrity of the game is of paramount importance. Prompt and decisive action will be taken against those who seek to harm it."
"However, the facts must first be established through a thorough investigation and it is important to respect the right of due process when addressing serious allegations of this sort."
The scandal comes after the arrest of player agent Mazhar Majeed, who was caught by English paper News of the World claiming he paid Amir and Asif to bowl no-balls in order to rig betting on matches.
Majeed also claims Pakistan intentionally lost their Test match against Australia in Sydney in January.
The claims have thrown doubt over Pakistan's recent Test series against England, which they lost 3-1, although the one-day series between the nations is still scheduled to go ahead at this stage.
ICC president Sahrad Pawar has discussed the issue with Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt and his English counterpart Giles Clarke on Monday as both governing bodies launched investigations into the scandal.
However, Pawar said they would not rush the investigation and risk making a mistake.
"We at the ICC are waiting for definite information from the PCB and our own anti-corruption unit," Pawar said.
"We hope to get something in the next two to three days' time and that information would lead to appropriate action, if required."