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Former match referee Chris Broad’s revelation he was pressured to be “lenient” on over rate offences by India’s captain Sourav Ganguly has been backed up by former India coach Greg Chappell, who said a powerful figure from India’s board offered to have a ban on Ganguly removed early in his tenure.
Broad revealed the 2005 suggestion that he not sanction India’s captain during a feature interview with the London Telegraph on Tuesday.
His experience came just months before former BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya made an offer to then India coach Chappell to “organise” that Ganguly be made available for a tour.
Former ICC match referee Chris Broad.Credit: AP
“India were three, four overs down at the end of a game so it constituted a fine,” Broad said. “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 [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’.
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“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.”
Chappell, who coached India from 2005 to 2007, confirmed Dalmiya’s offer when contacted by this masthead on Tuesday. Dalmiya died in 2015.
“Dalmiya offered to have his suspension reduced so that he could go to Sri Lanka at the start of my tenure,” Chappell said.
“I said no, I don’t want to rort the system, he has to do his time. Dalmiya seemed OK for him to miss.”
Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly.Credit: AP
Ganguly was first fined by Broad following the third ODI between India and Pakistan in Jamshedpur in April 2005. He was then banned for six matches for a repeat offence in the same series, although the suspension was reduced to four games on appeal.
He was then suspended for two matches by another match referee, former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd, for his second over rates offence within 12 months in September of the same year. Chappell had been appointed coach in May 2005.
The BCCI and the ICC were contacted for comment on Broad’s recollections, and Cricket Australia referred the matter to the ICC.
Dalmiya served as ICC president from 1997 to 2000, and then as BCCI president from 2001 to 2004. In 2005 he was still the most powerful figure on the board, having handpicked Ranbir Singh Mahendra as his presidential successor.
Greg Chappell during his time as India coach.Credit: AP
Reflecting on international power and politics in cricket, and India’s increasing sway over the game in particular, Broad said he had done well to last for 20 years as a match referee, before his contract was not renewed last year.
“I think back to [Australian umpire] Darrell Hair, who was another one who was a right-and-wrong-type individual, and he was ousted because of his beliefs and that was a big learning thing for me,” Broad said. “You try to be as honest to yourself as you can be, knowing that politically behind the scenes there are things going on.
“I think we 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 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.”
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