Mumbai: In a significant development for global cricket governance, Jay Shah, the dynamic honorary secretary of the BCCI, has been elected unopposed as the Independent Chair of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Shah will officially take the reins on 1 December 2024, following the conclusion of Greg Barclay's tenure in November.
Barclay, who has been at the helm of the ICC since 2020, surprised many when he announced on August 20 that he would not seek a third term. His decision cleared the path for Shah, who was the sole nominee, to step into the role without contest.
Barclay’s tenure was marked by steady leadership, but Shah’s unopposed election signals a new era, one where his initiatives to further expand cricket’s global footprint would be watched keenly.
Shah, the son of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, has been a key figure in Indian cricket administration over the past few years, with his tenure in the BCCI characterised by a push for modernisation and a strong emphasis on global outreach. His election as ICC Chair is seen as a natural progression of his growing influence in the cricketing world.
In his first public statement following the election, Shah said: "I am committed to working closely with the ICC team and our member nations to further globalise cricket.”
Shah highlighted the importance of balancing the coexistence of multiple formats—a nod to the ongoing debate about the future of Test cricket in the era of T20 dominance. He also emphasised the need to embrace advanced technologies, which could revolutionize how the game is played, watched, and officiated.
A particularly striking element of Shah’s agenda is his focus on introducing cricket’s marquee events to new global markets. With the sport’s inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Shah sees an unprecedented opportunity to elevate cricket's status 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,” he asserted.