KEY POINTS
- Greg Chappell supported Chris Broad’s claim that he was pressured to be lenient on India.
- He revealed that Jagmohan Dalmiya offered to reduce Sourav Ganguly’s suspension.
- Ganguly was fined for a slow over-rate during the third ODI against Pakistan in 2005.
ISLAMABAD: Former India head coach Greg Chappell has backed up claims made by former match referee Chris Broad, revealing that he was pressured to be lenient towards India for an over-rate offence during a 2005 match.
Broad, who officiated in the match, had earlier disclosed in an interview that he received a phone call urging him to “find some time” to avoid fining India for a slow over-rate.
Broad further stated that during the following game, after Sourav Ganguly failed to adhere to warnings regarding the over-rate, he was instructed to “just do him [Ganguly].”
While Broad did not reveal the source of these calls, Greg Chappell, who coached India from 2005 to 2007, provided further insight into the incident, specifically regarding the involvement of former ICC and BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya.
In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, Chappell claimed that Dalmiya had offered to reduce the suspension handed to Ganguly after the over-rate offence.
Dalmiya’s Offer to Overturn Ganguly’s Ban
Chappell recounted how Dalmiya suggested having Ganguly’s suspension reduced so that the captain could participate in the upcoming series in Sri Lanka.
“Dalmiya offered to have his suspension reduced so that he [Ganguly] could go to Sri Lanka at the start of my tenure,” Chappell revealed.
However, the former India coach stated that he had rejected the offer, adding, “I said no, I don’t want to rot the system, he has to do his time. Dalmiya seemed OK for him to miss.”
Also Read: Ex-ICC Match Referee’s Claims Highlight Cricket’s Growing Imbalance Under India’s Influence
Ganguly had been fined for a slow over-rate during the third ODI between India and Pakistan in 2005.
This offence led to a six-month ban, later reduced to four games upon appeal. Just before Chappell took over as India’s head coach in May 2005, Ganguly was banned for two matches for a second over-rate offence within the span of 12 months.
Legacy of Jagmohan Dalmiya
Dalmiya, who served as the ICC president from 1997 to 2000 and the BCCI president from 2001 to 2004, passed away in 2015.
Despite stepping down from the BCCI presidency, Dalmiya continued to wield significant influence within Indian cricket long after his formal tenure ended.
His involvement in the Ganguly ban saga sheds light on the complex political dynamics that have often surrounded Indian cricket’s management during his time.
Chappell’s revelations, along with Broad’s claims, add a new layer to the long-standing controversy surrounding Ganguly’s ban, revealing a fascinating behind-the-scenes glimpse into the power plays and pressures that shaped Indian cricket in the mid-2000s.
