ICC overrules Broad on Harbhajan action

By Anil
May 31 2005

Controversial referee Chris Broad's second report in four months on Indian bowler Harbhajan Singh has been correctly overruled by the ICC.

Broad had made a mockery of ICC procedure when, despite official testing carried out by Bruce Elliott in Australia following his first report, he claimed in an another report that India's ace off spinner Harbhajan Singh exceeded ICC's 15% guideline while delivering his celebrated doosra which has proved the undoing of some of the best batsmen in the world.

BCCI supported Harbhajan, asking the ICC why he was reported in March despite passing tests after the same referee had questioned his action just a few months back in December 2004. Yesterday, the ICC rejected Broad's "naked-eye" questioning of their tests after viewing video footage of Harbhajan's action during the Test in which Broad made his absurd ruling.

Spokesman Brendan McClements said that the ICC "was fortunate" to have past footage from Elliott, in addition to the video evidence from the India-Pakistan games, and based on this did not feel the need to ask the bowler to submit to another round of tests as suggested by Broad.

A jubilant Harbhajan Singh wasted no time in flying out to England, where he has already started training with his Surrey teammates prior to representing the English county side against Warwickshire on Wednesday, free to ply his art and use the dreaded doosra to heart's content.

Grapevine has it that Sunil Gavaskar, chairman of the technical arm of ICC (Malcom Speed of Australia is the chair of the management arm), had taken strong exception to Broad's controversial decision to rake Harbhajan through the analysis yet again.

While it is encouraging that common sense prevailed in the end and Broad's apparent personal vendetta set aside, it is critical that ICC enforce their code of conduct for referees in exactly the same manner as they do for players.

It is well established that Chris Broad brought disrepute to cricket during his brief and unremarkable international career as a player. However, the consequences would be grave if he is allowed to continue bringing disrepute to the game as a match official.

It is beyond time for the ICC to bite the bullet and discipline one of their own for crossing the line once too often.