Chris Broad explodes on India, exposes ICC-BCCI nexus; drags Sourav Ganguly into controversy with shocking claims

Former England cricketer Chris Broad has stated that the International Cricket Council showed special treatment towards India during his tenure as a match referee. Broad said that he was once instructed over the phone to “be lenient” when India fell behind on their over rate, asking him to spare a fine.

The former cricketer served as an ICC match referee from 2003 to February 2024. Broad officiated in 622 international games, including 123 Tests, 361 ODIs, and 138 T20Is. He, who survived a terrorist attack in Lahore in 2009, had expressed interest in continuing, but his contract was not renewed by the ICC.

Be Lenient, Find Some Time Because It’s India - Chris Broad

Speaking to The Telegraph, Chris Broad recalled an incident from his tenure as an ICC match referee. He revealed that he was once urged to spare India’s slow over-rate during a match when they were several overs behind schedule.

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Broad said the request came through a phone call made during the game, asking him to “be lenient” because it involved India. The 68-year-old accused the ICC of showing special treatment towards India.

"India were three, four overs down at the end of a game so it constituted a fine," said Broad. "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."

Sourav Ganguly Didn’t Listen to Any of the Hurry-Ups - Chris Broad

Chris Broad said that India repeated the same slow over-rate offense in the next match. He added that Sourav Ganguly ignored his reminders, leaving him with no choice but to impose the penalty. Broad stated that political influence occasionally interfered with on-field decisions.

"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.

India Got All the Money and Have Now Taken Over the ICC - Chris Broad

The 68-year-old, whose final assignment as an ICC referee came in Colombo in February 2024, said that the role has become highly political over the years. He stated that India’s growing dominance and financial control within world cricket have weakened the ICC’s independence.

“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," Broad said.

During the 2023 Ashes series, Chris allegedly faced criticism from the ICC after he shared a meme on X (formerly known as Twitter) celebrating his son Stuart’s 17th dismissal of Australian batter David Warner in Test cricket.

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