BCCI secretary Jay Shah has been elected unopposed as the independent chair of the International Cricket Council, and will assume his position on 1 December.
Shah was a shoo-in for the post ever since it was announced on August 20 that current ICC chair Greg Barclay would not seek a third term and would step down at the conclusion of his tenure in November.
The 35-year-old will relinquish his current position of BCCI secretary to succeed incumbent Greg Barclay on December 1 as the youngest ICC chairman for a term of two years (likely to extended).
Shah is expected to step down from his current position at the Indian cricket board’s AGM likely to be held towards the end of next month or in October.
Shah, who was the sole nominee for the chairmanship, emphasised his commitment to expanding the global reach and popularity of cricket, especially with its upcoming inclusion in the LA 2028 Olympics.
“I am humbled by the nomination as the chair of the International Cricket Council,” Shah stated.
“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.”
“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.”
“While the T20 is a naturally exciting format, it is equally important that Test cricket remains a priority for everyone as it forms the bedrock of our game,” Shah said in a statement issued by the BCCI on Tuesday.
“We must see to it that cricketers are driven to longer format and our efforts will be channelised towards this goal,” he added.
Shah said he would also like to work towards setting up a separate program for talent search. He emphasised on lifting the standard of the game across the globe.
“I want to assure you that I will do everything possible to elevate the standard of our game across the globe. As I step into this pivotal role, I am resolutely committed to meeting your high expectations and dedicating myself to the beautiful game of cricket,” he said.
Barron’s notes:
From running the world’s richest cricket board to chairing the ICC, Shah’s meteoric rise also illustrates India’s dramatic domination of cricket’s global administration.
In a country where the sport and politics go hand in glove, even after Shah was named all-powerful secretary of the BCCI, the 35-year-old is best known for his father.
He is the son of India’s powerful home minister Amit Shah, the right-hand man of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
