The 35-year-old Jay Shah created history when he was elected as the youngest chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC). The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary is all set to take over as the new ICC Chairman, starting from December 1, after Greg Barclay. Shah will have a three-year term but is allowed to extend his tenure for another three years.
Unopposed Election Marks Shah’s Rise
Shah was elected as no other nominations came in against him. The ICC also confirmed he was the sole nominee, with a couple of sets of nominations coming in for him by the 16 existing directors of the ICC. According to the regulations of the ICC, the candidate need not file the nomination papers, and thus it was pretty easy for the election of Shah himself.
From BCCI to ICC
Shah, who assumes the new assignment in the ICC, has got to go out of BCCI as secretary-a position he has held since 2019. The first major job for Shah as ICC Chairman is to appoint a new Independent Woman Director in place of Indra Nooyi after the latter completed her recent tenure. He will also have to deal with the issue of Disney Star seeking a renegotiation of the $3 billion broadcast deal. Besides, his other immediate task will be finding an adequate replacement for his stint with the BCCI.
A Vision for International Cricket Growth
In his maiden statement as ICC Chairman-elect, Shah outlined a future vision for the sport at large, with particular emphasis on the sport’s impending inclusion into the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Shah was all ears over the fact that the opportunity to come would prove pivotal in cricket’s attempt to spread its wings around the world.
“I am humbled by the nomination as the Chair of the International Cricket Council,” Shah said. “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.“
Innovative Leadership for a New Era
Shah said that new ideas and innovation have to be embraced to increase cricket’s popularity across the world. He even considers the inclusion of cricket in the Olympics to be a moment when the growing graph of cricket began.
“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” added Shah.
A New Chapter for the ICC
The ICC hailed Shah’s tenure thus: “Shah’s election marks a new chapter for the ICC as it seeks to expand the game’s reach and continue its evolution on the global stage.“
As Jay Shah prepares to take on this prestigious role, the cricketing world will keenly watch how this vision shapes the future of the sport.
The Sportz Planet Desk,
Atharva Shetye