Former ICC Match Referee Chris Broad Reveals Pressure to “Go Easy” on India

LONDON (Telegraph Report): In a startling revelation, former ICC match referee Chris Broad has claimed that he was once instructed to “go easy” on India in disciplinary matters under the ICC Code of Conduct.

Speaking to the Telegraph, Broad disclosed that during a match where the Indian team was four overs behind schedule — making a fine for slow over-rate inevitable — he received a phone call advising leniency.

> “I was told to find a solution and go easy because it was India,” Broad said.

The former referee recounted that he adjusted the time calculations to avoid penalizing the team. However, in the next match, then-captain Sourav Ganguly repeated the same offence and ignored the officials’ instructions.

> “When I asked what to do this time, I was told to punish only Ganguly, not the entire team,” Broad revealed.

Broad, who officiated in numerous international fixtures, said that cricket has become increasingly politicized, with decisions often influenced by financial and political considerations rather than sporting merit.

> “There’s a lot of politics in the game now. All the money lies with India, and they’ve effectively taken control of the ICC,” he added.

The former England cricketer concluded that he is relieved to no longer be part of the ICC officiating panel, calling it “a highly political position.”