I was told not to punish India for slow over-rate: Former ICC match referee

London, Oct 27: Former ICC match referee Chris Broad has stirred fresh controversy by claiming that he was once instructed to “be lenient” towards the Indian cricket team over a slow over-rate offence during his tenure as an official.
In an interview with The Telegraph, Broad revealed that he was contacted during a match in which India had fallen several overs behind the required rate. “India were three, four overs down at the end of a game, which constituted a fine,” Broad said. “I got a phone call saying, ‘be lenient, find some time because it’s India’. So, we had to make adjustments and bring it below the threshold.”
The former England cricketer further recounted that in the following game, when then-captain Sourav Ganguly again failed to speed up the proceedings, he sought guidance on whether to impose a penalty and was told to “just do him.”
Broad, who served as an ICC match referee from 2003 until February 2023, officiated in 622 international matches — including 123 Tests, 361 ODIs, and 138 T20Is. Reflecting on his long tenure, he said he was “happy to continue” but that his contract was not renewed. “I dodged a lot of bullets, both politically and physically,” he noted, referencing his presence during the 2009 Lahore terror attack on the Sri Lankan team.
Speaking candidly, Broad said he always tried to uphold fairness in an increasingly political environment. “I’ve always believed in right and wrong, but in certain parts of the world, it’s like the River Ganges — right and wrong are so far apart, with a lot of dirty water in between,” he remarked. “To survive 20 years in that politically charged atmosphere, I think, is quite an achievement.”
Broad also hinted at growing political influence within the ICC, suggesting that the balance of power had shifted heavily towards India. “We were supported by Vince van der Bijl when he was ICC umpires’ manager because he understood the game, but once he left, management became much weaker. India got all the money and have now taken over the ICC in many ways,” he said. “I’m actually relieved I’m not around anymore because the role has become far more political than it ever was.”
Broad, who was once reprimanded by the ICC during the 2023 Ashes for sharing a meme about his son Stuart dismissing David Warner for the 17th time, concluded that despite the challenges, he remains proud of his two-decade career as an ICC official — one marked by both integrity and turbulence. (PTI)