Jay Shah becomes the new chairman of ICC
Jay Shah will take over in December after the end of the third term of current chairman Greg Barclay. Jay Shah was on Tuesday announced as the new chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC). Shah, who was serving as BCCI secretary since October 2019 and Asian Cricket Council chairman since January 2021, will take over in December after the end of the current term of current chairman Greg Barclay.
At the age of 35, Shah became the youngest chairman in ICC history and joined the list of Indians like Jagmohan Dalmiya, Sharad Pawar, N Srinivasan and Shashank Manohar who have led the ICC in the past.
Reveals his intention to make it more popular
Jay Shah, the only nominee for the post of chairman, revealed his intention to make the game more popular, especially with its upcoming inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. “I am overwhelmed by the nomination as the President of the International Cricket Council,” Shah said. I am committed to working closely with the ICC team and our member countries to make cricket more global.
We stand at a critical juncture where it is very important to balance the coexistence of multiple formats, promote the adoption of advanced technologies, and introduce our flagship events to new global markets. Our goal is to make cricket more inclusive and popular than ever before.
While we will build on the valuable lessons learned, we must also embrace new thinking and innovation to spread the love for cricket around the world. The inclusion of our sport in the LA 2028 Olympics is a turning point for the development of cricket, and I am confident it will propel the sport forward in an unprecedented way.
Garg Barclay’s term ends on November 30
Earlier last week, Barclay confirmed that he will step down for a third term after the expiry of his term as ICC chairman on November 30. An ICC chairman is eligible for three terms of two years each, and the New Zealand-based lawyer has completed four years.
ICC chairman Greg Barclay confirmed to the board that he will not stand for a third term and will step down when his current term ends at the end of November. Barclay was appointed as the independent ICC Chairman in November 2020, before being re-elected in 2022,” ICC said in a media release.
The development soon fuelled speculations over Shah’s future at the sport’s governing body. Shah, 35, is already considered one of the most influential faces in the ICC boardroom. He filed his nomination for the post of ICC Chairman on Tuesday, the last day for filing nominations, and was soon elected unopposed as the next independent Chairman of the ICC.
Committed to working closely with our Member Countries
I am committed to working closely with the ICC team and our Member Countries to make cricket more global. We stand at a critical juncture where it is important to balance the co-existence of multiple formats, promote the adoption of advanced technologies and introduce our flagship events to new global markets. Our goal is to make cricket more inclusive and popular than ever before.
While we will build on the valuable lessons learned, we must continue to make cricket more inclusive and popular than ever before. New thinking and innovation will also have to be adopted to spread the love for cricket across the globe. The inclusion of our sport in the LA 2028 Olympics is a turning point for the development of cricket, and I am confident that it will propel the sport in an unprecedented way.
It should be noted that Shah, as President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), was a big supporter of the hybrid model, under which Pakistan and Sri Lanka will co-host the Asia Cup ODI event in 2023.
Pakistan to play its matches at home and against India in Dubai
It is believed that the ‘hybrid model’ could again be the solution, as Pakistan will play its matches at home and against India in Dubai. The long-term challenge will be to safeguard the future of Test cricket, have dedicated funds for the formats, make ODIs sustainable and avoid countries losing key talents to freelancing in T20 leagues around the world.
Maintaining a calendar that is effective and gives players a chance to rest some time while earning well will be top of his agenda. Another key challenge is to promote cricket at the Olympics, as it will make its debut in Los Angeles in 2028. While we will build on the valuable lessons learned, we must also embrace new thinking and innovation to spread the love for cricket around the world, Shah said.
Conclusion
Jai Shah, the current honorary secretary of the BCCI, has been elected unopposed as the independent chairman of the ICC, and will assume his position on December 1, 2024. On August 20, it was announced that current ICC chairman Greg Barclay will not seek a third term and will step down at the conclusion of his term in November.
Shah, who was the only nominee for the post of chairman, emphasised his commitment to expanding cricket’s global reach and popularity, especially with its upcoming inclusion in the LA 2028 Olympics.
