Former England cricketer and ICC match referee Chris Broad has disclosed an incident where he was urged to show leniency towards India for their slow over-rate during a match. Broad, the father of renowned fast bowler Stuart Broad, served as a match referee from 2003 to 2024, officiating numerous matches involving India.
Throughout his career, Broad oversaw 622 international matches across different formats, making him the third-most experienced cricket referee in history. However, his recent revelation post-retirement has stirred significant controversy.
Broad revealed that he received a phone call during a match instructing him not to penalize India despite their lagging over-rate. Although he did not specify the exact match in question, Broad shared the details with The Telegraph. He recounted being asked to be lenient and buy time for India as they were several overs behind, eventually avoiding a fine.
In a subsequent match, when India once again fell behind the over-rate, Broad warned the then-captain Sourav Ganguly. However, Ganguly ignored the warnings, prompting Broad to take action and levy fines against the team.
Reflecting on the situation, Broad highlighted the political dynamics at play, indicating that decisions were influenced by external factors. He criticized the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for allegedly leveraging its financial power to sway ICC decisions, even those made by match referees.
Broad expressed his concerns about the changing landscape within the ICC, suggesting that political considerations now play a more significant role than in the past. He noted a shift in management dynamics after the departure of ICC umpires manager Vince van der Bijl, emphasizing India’s growing influence within the organization. Broad concluded by stating his relief at not being actively involved in the current political environment surrounding cricket governance.