Sourav Ganguly and Jay Shah - (Source:@Johns/X.com)
In a significant development, former ICC referee Chris Broad, who also happens to be the father of legendary England cricketer Stuart Broad, has made severe allegations against the BCCI. The 68-year-old has accused the apex cricket board of India of misusing its financial power to influence decisions.
Speaking to the Telegraph, Broad narrated an incident that occurred during his time as a match referee and how he got a call from the BCCI to be lenient against India for a slow over-rate instance.
Chris Broad accuses India of manipulation
Broad remarked that India were three to four overs behind the scheduled time, and it was then that he got a call asking not to impose a fine, which left him shocked, but he was also forced to comply with the instructions.
"India were three or four overs down at the end of the game, so it constituted a fine. I received 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 and bring it down below the threshold," he remarked.
It was not the end as Broad also went on to slam Sourav Ganguly, possibly hinting at a time when the former India captain served as BCCI president and stated that the southpaw too was involved in politics.
Broad hints at politics during Ganguly's era with team India
"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 claimed.
In the end, Broad highlighted the growth of influence and politics in cricket and expressed his pleasure that he has retired from the profession.
"India got all the money and have now taken over the ICC, so in many ways. I'm pleased I'm not around because it's a much more political position now than it ever has been," Broad told the Telegraph.
Broad has served as an ICC match referee in 123 Tests in his career, with the last being in Colombo in February 2024.
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