Old but Still Gold

[What-A-Player]

Found at rec.sports.cricket newsgroup

Chris Broad, the controversial cricketer turned ICC Match referee, is
pursuing a dangerous crusade against Asian cricketers. This article
examines his bizarre record as match official.
On November 27, 1987, England's opening batsman Chris Broad was causing
an ugly scene in the middle of Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan.

Broad had just been given out, caught behind off Pakistani spinner
Iqbal Qasim. But he refused to budge from the crease, contending that
he had not edged the ball. He stood his ground, arguing with umpire and
bowler, until being finally dragged off the pitch by captain Mike
Gatting. Broad's dislike for Asians had just gone up a notch.

That ill-tempered tour by England, perhaps the most disreputable ever
in cricket, had also witnessed a disgraceful shouting match on field
between Gatting and Pakistani umpire Shakoor Rana, during which the
England captain was heard repeating, "One rule for one, one for
another," after an appeal for a catch was turned down. Broad must have
decided at that time that he would turn those rules around if he ever
got the chance.

Broad's misbehavior did not stop there. On Jan 30, 1988, in the Sydney
Cricket Ground, Broad was bowled by Aussie part-timer Steve Waugh. With
typical gracelessness befitting his churlish image, he smashed his bat
into stumps in a fit of rage.

Later that same year, struck in front of stumps and given LBW for duck
to legendary fast bowler Malcolm Marshall in Lord's, he mouthed off at
the umpire for a decision he was clearly unhappy with, before dragging
his feet back to the pavilion.

The English selectors had seen enough. Obnoxious Broad was summarily
axed from the team, and his career ended soon afterward.

Match Referee

In December 2003, the ICC made an announcement that shocked cricket
fans. The notorious rule-breaker Chris Broad had been appointed ICC
match referee, and would start officiating in Pakistan's tour of New
Zealand.

Since then, in less than one and a half years, Broad has been referee
in 5 series comprising 12 Tests and 34 ODIs, officiating in matches
involving every side other than his native England: New Zealand,
Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Australia, India, South Africa, Bangladesh, West
Indies, and Pakistan.

During this short time, he has racked up a litany of charges against
players from every major Asian cricket-playing country.

Australia tour of Sri Lanka

On March 26, 2004, the Sri Lankan team found that Chris Broad,
refereeing in his second series, wasn't the most impartial judge in
town. Justin Langer and other surrounding fielders had appealed loudly
for hit-wicket against Tillakaratne. Camera footage had fortuitously
caught what really happened: Langer had, ever so unobtrusively,
disloged the bail with his hand whilst running over after the ball.

Coming soon after another ICC referee, Mike Proctor, had ended the
career of Pakistan captain Rashid Latif with a 5-match ban for unfair
play after Latif had claimed a catch off what appeared to be a bump
ball, it looked like an open-and-shut case to ban Langer for some
substantial number of matches.

But not according to Chris Broad, who unbelievably cleared Langer of
all charges after the Australian claimed that it "was not intentional".
Broad later explained to a dumbfounded Lankan media, "Justin was
disappointed that the charge was brought and explained his position in
a very honest and succinct way. He was, however, reminded that in
future to steer clear of any instances such as this."

And that wasn't bad enough, it was just the beginning.

Two days later, Broad announced that he was reporting Sri Lanka's
legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan for chucking. Murali, the most
successful bowler in Test history, had already been cleared after
numerous tests by Aussie experts, and the referee decided to take on
the test results. Cricketing fraternity in Lanka was outraged by
Broad's unilateral decision to report him, despite the fact that ICC
required a report from umpires before the referee could act against a
player, which they had not given him.

Broad, during his stint as a radio commentator when England toured Sri
Lanka in November 2003, had openly criticised Muralitharan's action,
which made it apparent to the Lankans that he was targetting the Lankan
great with referee hat on.

Arjuna Ranatunga, the former Lankan skipper who had led the Lanka team
from the field in Australia after an Aussie umpire no-balled Murali,
made it clear that he believed Broad's report was motivated by racial
considerations.

Arjuna said that Broad was not only out of order in acting unilaterally
at such a crucial juncture in Muralitharan's career, but also out of
his depth: "The ICC should appoint those who are experienced and have
an impeccable record in such positions. What experience does Broad
have? Look at his background. His actions are a huge let-down to the
ICC's reputation."

Broad was also reported to the ICC by the Sri Lanka Cricket Board for
"boozing" with Australian cricketers in a Colombo bar during the
series, which SLC pointed out was gross misconduct in breach of ICC
rules.

Thus was the infamy of Chris Broad born. Murali was persecuted for a
long while before more tests proved that his action was within legal
limits.

Harbhajan and Other Asian bowlers

Chris Broad has reported Asian bowlers for throwing an astonishing 5
times in his short 1+ year as referee.

Most outrageous of these have been his dealings with Harbhajan Singh,
the ace Indian offie considered by many to be among the 3 best spinners
in the world after Murali and Shane Warne.

Broad reported Harbhajan Singh for a suspect action in December 2004,
during India's tour of Bangladesh. This was after Harbhajan had already
undergone corrective procedures in England and had been cleared.

Harbhajan was sent back to ICC bowling analysis experts in Australia,
who quickly cleared him based on the ICC's 15% allowable bend law.

No sooner had Harbhajan made a return to Test cricket against Pakistan,
with ICC once again sending the dreaded Broad as referee, did Broad
report him yet again in March this year, despite results of tests
conducted only a few weeks earlier, baffling and outraging most cricket
followers in the subcontinent.

The obnoxious Englishman, now disliked with a passion rivalling Mike
Deness, was by now widely suspected of bias against Asians, often
despite ICC laws rather than because of them.

Last year, Broad also reported Pakistani spinner Mohammad Hafeez and
during the Pakistan tour of Australia, and Pakistani paceman Shabbir
Ahmed during Pakistan tour of New Zealand, thus achieving in one short
year chucking bans on bowlers in all the major subcontinental teams.

For an official with a reputation of reporting bowlers for suspect
action, it is thus highly suspicious that Broad has chosen not to
report Brett Lee, the Australian fast bowler widely suspected of
chucking, among others by Aussie Dennis Lillee. Nor even New Zealand
paceman Kyle Mills, who is acknowledged as a chucker amongst most Kiwi
cricket followers. Broad has overseen several matches involving both of
the above players.

Penalties

Chris Broad has demonstrated that he does not limit his bizarre crusade
only to suspect actions.

In his short tenure, he has handed out a huge number of fines and bans,
the vast majority of them against Asian cricketers, although he has
officiated in matches involving every country other than England (which
he is not allowed to officiate).

His strike rate for penalties is by far the highest amongst all match
referees, handing out punishments in almost 50% of the matches he has
officiated.

Of these, he has punished Pakistani captain Inzamam-ul-Haq an amazing
four times in the first four months of 2005, including 100% fines and a
Test ban.

Broad also levied harsh fines on Shoaib Akhtar and Lakshmipathy Balaji
for "excessive appealing". Needless to say, he has never found an
Aussie bowler guilty of this offense, despite the fact that they are
well known to be among the most over-the-top appealers.

He handed out a 70% fine to Indian captain Sourav Ganguly for a slow
over rate in 40+ degree temperatures.

All of the above have come in the short cricket season so far in 2005
-- it's still only mid-April.

Broad's crowning achievement

Chris Broad's proudest moment, however, came when he banned skipper
Ganguly last week for a world-record 6 matches, for the minor offense
of a slightly slow over rate in unbearable 40+ degree conditions when
players were cramping throughout the day during an ODI in Ahmedabad.

This, after England captain Michael Vaughan was fined a paltry 10% for
being fully 5 overs behind in an ODI against SA in February this year,
the second time within 20 days when he was found running behind,
shortly after a 50% fine for being another 5 overs short of target in
late January against the same opponents.

After Darren Lehmann was banned for a total 5 matches after shouting
racial epithets against Sri Lankan players after being dismissed.

Someone needs to tell the ICC that outright racism is not better than
being a couple of overs behind in extremely hot conditions.

Someone also needs to point out to them that Chris Broad's crusade
against Asian players is well documented on their own web site.

This much is obvious: the ICC, by appointing Broad to matches involving
India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, is deliberatly sweeping
aside evidence that shows this loose cannon needs to be reined in, even
rubbing it in by repeatedly forcing him on the subcontinental nations.

Last month, ICC announced that they have renewed Broad's tenure as
match referee for another two years.

It is absolutely critical to cricket that Chris Broad be removed from
ICC's panel of referees immediately, as Mike Deness was before him.

Any other course would divide the cricket-playing countries even more
deeply than they already are.



Chris Broad actions as referee in 2005

Jan 16, 2005: Shoaib Akhtar, Australia v Pakistan, ODI
Excessive appealing. Fined 25% of match fee and warned about future
conduct.
Referee: Chris Broad

Feb 1, 2005: Inzamam-ul-Haq, Pakistan v West Indies, ODI
Fined 100% of match fee and given a final warning about slow decision
making and general slow over rate.
Referee: Chris Broad

Mar 8, 2005: Lakshmipathy Balaji, India v Pakistan, Test
Excessive appealing, Fined 30% of match fee.
Referee: Chris Broad

Mar 21, 2005: Harbhajan Singh, India v Pakistan, Test
Reported again for suspect bowling action, after tests due to his
earlier report against him 3 months earlier.
Referee: Chris Broad

Mar 24, 2005: Inzamam-ul-Haq, India v Pakistan, Test
Showing dissent at an umpire's decision by action or verbal abuse.
Fined 30% of match fee.
Referee: Chris Broad

Mar 28, 2005: Inzamam-ul-Haq, India v Pakistan, Test
Charging or advancing towards the umpire in an aggressive manner when
appealing. Banned for 1 Test match.
Referee: Chris Broad

Apr 5, 2005: Inzamam-ul-Haq, India v Pakistan, ODI
Abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures
and fittings. Official Reprimand.
Referee: Chris Broad

April 9, 2005: Sourav Ganguly, India v Pakistan, ODI
Bowled overs too slowly. Fined 70% of match fee
Referee: Chris Broad

April 12, 2005: Sourav Ganguly, India v Pakistan, ODI
Bowled overs too slowly. Banned for 6 ODIs.
Referee: Chris Broad

[Autobahn]

And?

[Goughy]

I have learnt never to mention Asian cricketers or things they did or do out due to the knowledge that a viscious backlash from certain myopic sections of the cricketing community would be aimed my way.

At least Broad is braver than I am. The charge of racism and picking on Asian cricketers is just thrown around with no real consequence or thought from the accusor.

[FaaipDeOiad]

Yeah exactly. He's officiated in a lot of matches involving asian teams, and he's punished them for things. So what? Unless there is something actually wrong with his decisions it's of no relevance, and even if he does make errors, accusing someone of racism requires a bit more than just "you did something which had a negative impact on someone that happened to be of X race".

[howardj]

You'd really need to know the context of the charges in that catalogue. However, prima facie, it seems Broad is a touch heavy-handed/officious. As for the charge of racism, that's a serious charge to make absent compelling evidence.

[What-A-Player]

Originally Posted by Autobahn

And?

Wish you would reply that to every post!

In context to the news that he was "axed" but that news wasn't really true and he is still MF (Match Referee that is)

[Sanz]

First of all - Please post such articlets with proper links. This to me looks like more of a troll posting on whatever newsgroup it was posted onto. It is ridiculous and cowardice to cry 'racism', everytime some guy takes action is taken against an asian player.

[What-A-Player]

Originally Posted by Sanz

First of all - Please post such articlets with proper links. This to me looks like more of a troll posting on whatever newsgroup it was posted onto. It is ridiculous and cowardice to cry 'racism', everytime some guy takes action is taken against an asian player.

Googled it and found http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...8-4-2005_pg2_8

But the Newsgroup had a different link http://www.sportnetwork.net/main/s119/st71035.htm

Latter has an earlier date, so dunno who copied who

[Sanz]

No Wonder there is no name associated with the article.

[luckyeddie]

Originally Posted by Sanz

No Wonder there is no name associated with the article.

My thoughts entirely, Sanz - just someone venting their spleen.

[Smudge]

I'm pretty sure it was penned by Abe/Anil on the ICF forum. I replied to him, explaining that he was treading some very fine defamation lines, and it could in no way be called an article due to its complete lack of balance.

He banned me. He's one of the saddest cricket followers I've ever met.

[andyc]

Looking at the title of this thread, I wasn't surprised when I saw that Voltman was the last one to post in it.

[Smudge]

I prefer blue-rinse, not gold-rinse.

[JASON]

Originally Posted by howardj

You'd really need to know the context of the charges in that catalogue. However, prima facie, it seems Broad is a touch heavy-handed/officious. As for the charge of racism, that's a serious charge to make absent compelling evidence.

I would agree with this one hundred percent . Broad does seem a guy who likes to wear his hat and be the centre of attention .(possibly from frustrations as a failure in International Cricket ). But Racism is too powerful word to use. (and not a word to be thrown around lightly )

[Jono]

The comparison of Ganguly's punishment compared to Lehmann's is a good point though.