Jay Shah has been elected unopposed as the next independent chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC). The announcement was made by the ICC’s apex council on Tuesday, August 27.
Shah, who has served as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary since 2019 and chairman of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) since 2021, will succeed Greg Barclay. Barclay is stepping down after his tenure ends on November 30, 2024.
At 35 years old, Shah will be the youngest person to ever hold the position of ICC chairman. He was the sole nominee for the role and expressed his commitment to enhancing the global appeal of cricket.
Shah’s Statement:
“I am humbled by the nomination as the Chair of the International Cricket Council. I am committed to working closely with the ICC team and our member nations to further globalize cricket. We stand at a critical juncture where it is increasingly important to balance the coexistence of multiple formats, promote the adoption of advanced technologies, and introduce our marquee events to new global markets. Our goal is to make cricket more inclusive and popular than ever before.”
Shah will officially take on the role on December 1, 2024. In his statement, he emphasized the importance of innovation and fresh thinking in expanding cricket’s reach. He also highlighted the potential impact of cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Shah’s Vision:
“While we will build on the valuable lessons learned, we must also embrace fresh thinking and innovation to elevate the love for cricket worldwide. The inclusion of our sport in the Olympics at LA 2028 represents a significant inflection point for the growth of cricket, and I am confident that it will drive the sport forward in unprecedented ways.”
Jay Shah will be the fifth Indian to lead the ICC, following Jagmohan Dalmiya, Sharad Pawar, N. Srinivasan, and Shashank Manohar.
