Chris Broad accuses ICC of favoring India, alleges pressure from Sourav Ganguly

Former England cricketer and veteran ICC match referee Chris Broad has made serious allegations against the International Cricket Council (ICC), accusing the governing body of showing favoritism toward India. In a recent interview, Broad claimed that the ICC had instructed him to be lenient with the Indian cricket team over slow over-rate penalties during several matches.

Broad, who officiated in more than 600 international games over a two-decade career, revealed that he was once urged to reduce penalties against India after they fell behind on their over rate. He further alleged that then-BCCI president Sourav Ganguly pressured him to “do what he said” when it came to disciplinary matters.

“India were three or four overs short at the end of a game, which meant a fine. I got a phone call saying, ‘Be lenient, find some time because it’s India.’ So we adjusted the calculation to avoid a penalty,” Broad said. “But in the very next game, the same thing happened. Ganguly ignored all the hurry-ups, and when I asked what to do, I was told, ‘Just do him.’”

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Reflecting on his long tenure, Broad added, “I was very happy to continue, but for 20 years I dodged a lot of bullets, politically and physically. In some parts of the world, right and wrong are like the River Ganges—far apart with a lot of dirty water in between. I’ve always stood for what’s right, so lasting 20 years in that politically charged environment feels like an achievement.”

Chris Broad served as an ICC match referee from 2003 until February 2024, overseeing 123 Test matches, 361 ODIs, and 138 T20Is.