‘India Runs the ICC Now’: Chris Broad Criticises Growing Political Influence

Chris Broad criticised the ICC, saying India’s growing financial power has made the organisation more political and less independent.

Former England cricketer and ex-ICC match referee Chris Broad has criticised the International Cricket Council for allegedly favouring India and the BCCI due to their financial influence. Broad claimed that India’s growing control has made ICC operations increasingly political. He recalled being advised not to penalise India for a slow over-rate because of the board’s monetary value to the council.

“We [match referees] were supported by Vince van der Bijl (ICC umpires manager) while he was in position because he came from a cricketing background, but once he left, the management became a lot weaker. India got all the money and have now taken over the ICC 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 said in conversation with The Telegraph.

Broad also accused then-ICC chairman Sourav Ganguly of interfering in decisions meant to be independent. According to him, the ICC’s structure weakened after key officials left, allowing politics to dominate decision-making. He added that many current officials now avoid confrontation to protect their positions.

“India were three, 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, brought it down below the threshold. The very next game, exactly the same thing happened,” he said.

“He [Sourav Ganguly] – the then ICC chairman] 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 the head below the parapet. I don’t know,” Broad added.

READ ALSO | “He’s Right On Top”: Suryakumar Yadav Backs Jasprit Bumrah To Perform In AUS T20Is

Notably, Chris Broad has been away from the ICC’s match referees panel since officiating his last game, a T20I between England and Pakistan at The Oval in 2024.