 "Chris Broad alleges ICC bent rules for India, favoured Ganguly’s team in over-rate offence: ‘Be lenient’")
Former England cricketer and ICC match referee Chris Broad has revealed that he was once asked to be “lenient” against India when they were behind the over-rate in a match. Chris Broad, who is the father of legendary England fast bowler Stuart Broad, worked as a match referee from 2003 to 2024, overseeing several India games.
Broad officiated in 622 international matches across formats, becoming the third-most experienced referee in cricket history. But his latest revelation since retirement has sparked a massive controversy.
‘India have now taken over the ICC’: Broad
Broad claimed that he was instructed on the phone during a match not to fine India despite them being behind the over rate. He hasn’t identified the exact match.
“India were three, four overs down at the end of a game so it constituted a fine,” Broad told The Telegraph. “I got a phone call saying, ‘Be lenient, find some time because it’s India’. And it’s like, right, OK. So we had to find some time, brought it down below the threshold.”
Broad added that in the next match, India were once again behind the over-rate, forcing him to warn the then captain, Sourav Ganguly. But as Ganguly refused to entertain his warning, he was told to fine the team.
“The very next game, exactly the same thing happened. He [Sourav Ganguly] didn’t listen to any of the hurry-ups, and so I phoned and said, ‘What do you want me to do now?’ and I was told, ‘Just do him. ’ So there were politics involved, right from the start. A lot of the guys now are either politically more savvy or just keeping the head below the parapet. I don’t know,” Broad added.
Broad also accused BCCI of using its financial power to influence ICC’s decision, including that coming from match referees.
“I think we were supported by Vince van der Bijl (ICC umpires manager) while he was in position because he came from a cricketing background but, once he left, the management became a lot weaker. India got all the money and have now taken over the ICC so in many ways. I’m pleased I’m not around because it’s a much more political position now than it ever has been," he said.
 "What is India’s military exercise that has forced Pakistan to close most of its airspace?")
 "Severe Cyclone Montha to make landfall at Andhra Pradesh’s coast today, east coast on red alert")
 "'Largest downsizing in history': Why is Amazon set to lay off 30,000 people?")
 "What is the ‘golden age’ pact Trump and Japan PM Takaichi have signed?")
 "What is India’s military exercise that has forced Pakistan to close most of its airspace?")
 "Severe Cyclone Montha to make landfall at Andhra Pradesh’s coast today, east coast on red alert")
 "'Largest downsizing in history': Why is Amazon set to lay off 30,000 people?")
 "What is the ‘golden age’ pact Trump and Japan PM Takaichi have signed?")
