Jay Shah, outgoing secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), officially assumed the role of International Cricket Council (ICC) Chair on Sunday, December 1, succeeding Greg Barclay, who vacated the position on Saturday.
In his inaugural statement, Shah expressed gratitude to the ICC directors and member boards, while laying out his vision for his tenure. He emphasised making cricket more popular worldwide and preparing for the sport’s inclusion in the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028. Shah also highlighted the need to accelerate the growth of the women’s game.
“This is an exciting time for the sport as we prepare for the LA28 Olympic Games and work to make cricket more inclusive and engaging for fans worldwide. We are at a critical juncture with the coexistence of multiple formats and the need to accelerate the growth of the women’s game,” Shah said in a statement.
“Cricket holds immense potential globally, and I look forward to working closely with the ICC team and Member countries to seize these opportunities and take the sport to new heights,” he added.
Shah’s first and perhaps biggest challenge as ICC chair will be finding an amicable solution for the ongoing Champions Trophy issue between BCCI and Pakistan Cricket Board. With India not travelling to Pakistan and reportedly preferring a hybrid model, the PCB had asked for a long-term solution for the issue, where they too will play India at a neutral venue at ICC events till 2031, PTI reports.
As there is not much time left, Shah will have to negotiate a long-term solution that does not put in a position where he comes off as being favourable to India.
Shah, who became the youngest-ever BCCI secretary in October 2019, held the position until November. His tenure with the BCCI would have officially concluded next year. However, after being unanimously elected as ICC chair in August, he stepped down early.
Shah relinquished his role as the ICC director appointed by the BCCI, chairperson of the ICC’s Finance and Commercial Affairs Sub-Committee, and head of the Asian Cricket Council, in line with the ICC constitution.
Next BCCI secretary by January 14
While Shah, as per the ICC constitution, would have vacated his post as the BCCI secretary, there is no clear indication on who will succeed the son of Home Minister Amit Shah.
New Indian Express quotes the BCCI constitution as stating that, the president shall “…in the event of the vacancy or indisposition of an office bearer, delegate the functions to another office bearer until the vacancy is duly filled up, or the indisposition ceases.”
The constitution also states that if there is a vacancy in the Apex Council, which includes the five elected office bearers, it shall be filled up “… by elections at a Special General Body Meeting of the BCCI convened by the secretary for that purpose within 45 days.” In this case, “unseen and unheard” BCCI president Roger Binny will have the authority to convene an SGM, where the next secretary is elected, before January 14, 2025.
