Former England cricketer and long-time ICC match referee Chris Broad has accused the International Cricket Council of showing open favoritism toward India during his 21-year career. In a recent interview with The Telegraph, Broad claimed that he received direct phone calls instructing him not to impose penalties on the Indian team for offenses like slow over rates. He said that despite wanting to act impartially, he was pressured to overlook violations because of India’s influence in world cricket. Broad also alleged that similar interference occurred in matches led by former India captain Sourav Ganguly, suggesting deep-rooted politics within the ICC. Having officiated over 600 international matches since 2003, Broad said that working under such political and administrative pressure was one of his toughest challenges. His ICC contract was not renewed in 2024, ending more than two decades of service as an international match referee.