Former International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee Chris Broad has accused the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of exerting political influence to shield the Indian team from penalties, particularly in a match involving Sourav Ganguly during Broad's tenure. In an interview with The Telegraph on October 28, 2025, Broad, father of retired England pacer Stuart Broad, recounted receiving a direct phone call instructing him to "be lenient" on India's slow over-rate fine. He alleged that despite India being three to four overs behind schedule—an infraction warranting an automatic penalty—he was pressured to manipulate timings to evade the sanction. This revelation highlights longstanding concerns over governance in cricket, where financial powerhouses like the BCCI are perceived to wield disproportionate sway within the ICC.

Broad detailed the incident without specifying the exact match but tied it to Ganguly's era, noting the captain's apparent disregard for over-rate warnings. "India was three or 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 and brought it down below the threshold," he explained. The very next game saw a repeat, prompting Broad to seek guidance, only to be told to "just do him", implying leniency persisted. Broad, who officiated 123 Tests and retired after a February 2024 match in Colombo, described this as emblematic of politics infiltrating the sport from the outset, with officials either adapting or staying silent.

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The claims underscore a broader evolution in cricket administration, where the BCCI's financial dominance—stemming from India's massive market—has allegedly politicised ICC leadership. "India got all the money and has 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," Broad stated. This echoes past controversies, including the 2014 ousting of ICC chairman N. Srinivasan amid conflict-of-interest allegations and criticisms during Ganguly's 2019-2022 BCCI presidency over perceived favouritism. Slow over-rates remain a flashpoint, with recent IPL fines totalling millions, yet international enforcement has been inconsistent, fuelling debates on equity.

As cricket globalises, Broad's allegations revive calls for structural reforms to insulate umpiring and refereeing from national pressures. The ICC has yet to respond, but the episode could prompt internal reviews, especially with upcoming events like the 2026 Champions Trophy hosted by Pakistan and India. Ganguly, now a commentator and administrator, has not commented, but his legacy as a transformative captain contrasts with these governance shadows, reminding stakeholders of the sport's vulnerability to power dynamics.

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