London( The COW News Digital) Former ICC match referee Chris Broad has made explosive revelations about India’s growing influence within world cricket, claiming he was once instructed to go “easy” on the Indian team to avoid disciplinary consequences.
In an interview with The Telegraph, the veteran English official exposed what he described as political interference and financial dominance in the International Cricket Council (ICC), alleging that “India practically controls the ICC” due to its massive financial clout.
Broad recalled a particular incident when India was due to be fined for maintaining a slow over-rate during a match. “I received a phone call saying, ‘Go easy — find a way to sort it out. This is India,’” he said. According to Broad, he complied by adjusting time calculations to ensure that no fine was imposed on the Indian team.
He further revealed that then-Indian captain Sourav Ganguly repeatedly ignored officials’ instructions. “In the next match, Ganguly did the same thing again,” Broad recalled. “When I asked what action should be taken, I was told to penalize Ganguly only.”
The former referee described the entire episode as proof that cricket decisions were no longer purely about rules, but about politics and money. “There’s a lot of politics involved now,” he said. “People make decisions with political complications in mind. All the money is in India, and they’ve practically taken over the ICC.”
Broad, who served as an ICC match referee for nearly two decades, said he was relieved to no longer be part of the system. “I’m glad I’m not involved anymore. The position has become too political, and match officials are often pressured behind the scenes,” he added.
His remarks have sparked heated discussions among former cricketers and analysts, many of whom have long accused the ICC of being overly influenced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Critics argue that the financial power of Indian cricket — which contributes a major share of global broadcasting revenue — has created a situation where other cricket boards hesitate to challenge its dominance.
While the ICC has not yet responded to Broad’s claims, his statements have reignited the debate about fairness, neutrality, and governance within international cricket.
