Overview:
The former England player mentioned that India repeated the same mistake in the next game and, despite his warning, the then captain, Sourav Ganguly, didn't listen, forcing him to fine the team.
Former ICC match referee Chris Broad has revealed that he was once told to be lenient with India and avoid sanctioning them for a slow over-rate offence during his days as an ICC match official. Broad said that showed how India was given special treatment and pointed towards the role of politics.
He didn’t mention the game or India’s opponent in his conversation with The Telegraph. Broad said that the Men in Blue were three or four overs short of the target. “India were three-four overs behind. I got a phone call, and the person told me to be lenient as it was India. We had to find some time and bring it down below the threshold,” he said.
The former England player mentioned that India repeated the same mistake in the next game and, despite his warning, the then captain, Sourav Ganguly, didn’t listen, forcing him to fine the team.
“The same thing happened in the next game. Sourav Ganguly didn’t listen, and I spoke to the same person. ‘What do you want me to do now?’ I was told to proceed with the sanctions. Politics was involved from the start,” he added.
Broad was the match referee in 123 Tests, with his last red-ball being in Colombo in 2024. “India have become stronger and have got all the money. They have taken over ICC in many ways. I am happy that I am not around as it has become a political position now.”