Did Chris Broad Just Accuse ICC of Favouring India?

Chris Broad, who was a match referee for decades, has recently spoken against the Indian team. In his stint as a referee, he remarked how the ICC used to favour the Indian team. He also accused Sourav Ganguly of not being in a hurry to listen.

1. Broad Alleges ICC Being Lenient Towards the BCCI

, “I was very happy to carry on. But for 20 years, I dodged a lot of bullets, both politically and physically. I look back and I think, ‘you know, 20 years is quite a long time to be doing that job’. I’m pleased not to be travelling to certain parts of the world. And I was always someone who believed in right and wrong and in certain parts of the world it’s a bit like the River Ganges – right and wrong are so far apart and there’s a lot of dirty water in between them that you have to deal with, so I think as someone who comes from a right and wrong perspective, to last 20 years in that politically active environment is a pretty good effort.”

Chris Broad remained the match referee from 2003 to 2024, and he recalled the incidents of the Indian team. While he didn't mention what he meant to say by dodging physical bullets, fans remain eager to know if he received any threats or if it was just word of mouth.

Among all the names who have been a part of the Indian team, Chris Broad took the name of Sourav Ganguly. He remarked how the Indian team was having a slow over rate when Ganguly was the captain of the side. But even after repeatedly telling him to increase the over rate, it all went unheard.

, “India were three, four overs down at the end of a game, so it constituted a fine. 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. 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 their heads below the parapet. I don’t know.”Broad also talked about how the Indians have now started to conquer the ICC, with Jay Shah now being the Chairman of the same and the involvement of politics.

At last, Chris Broad said, “I think we were supported by Vince van der Bijl (ICC umpire’s 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 in so many ways. I’m pleased I’m not around because it’s a much more political position now than it ever has been.”