Jay Shah Joins MCC’s New Advisory Council

Jay Shah joins the MCC’s new advisory council.

Jay Shah, the current ICC President and former BCCI Secretary, has been appointed as a member of the newly formed Cricket Connects Advisory Council of the Marylebone Cricket Club. This advisory body will replace the World Cricket Committee, a long-standing and influential group that had previously guided cricket’s global development.

The Birth of Cricket Connects Advisory Council

The formation of the Cricket Connects Advisory Council was a significant milestone in the change of approach that MCC would take with regard to issues concerning global cricket. The World Cricket Committee, constituted in 2006, was an independent entity that, even though it was not vested with any formal powers of decision-making, played a significant advisory role for the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Many of the game’s most influential changes, such as the introduction of the Decision Review System (DRS), the World Test Championship, and the concept of day-night pink ball Test matches, were born out of suggestions from this committee.

With the World Cricket Committee now being replaced, the new Cricket Connects Advisory Council aims to build on this legacy, fostering further development and improvement in the game through collaboration between influential cricket figures from around the world.

Key Members and Leadership of the Advisory Council

The newly formed advisory council is to be led by former MCC president and cricket icon Kumar Sangakkara, widely regarded as a man of leadership both within and outside of the playing arena. Other members forming part of this advisory council consist of some of the most respected names in international cricket, including former India captain Sourav Ganguly, former South African captain Graeme Smith, and former England captain Andrew Strauss.

The council also comprises cricketing and business leaders from around the world, including Jio Star CEO for Sports Sanjog Gupta, Cricket Scotland CEO Trudy Lindblad, and Cricket West Indies CEO Chris Dehring. This diverse and experienced group of cricketing minds will meet regularly throughout the year to discuss crucial issues facing the sport, ensuring that their collective expertise can help guide the future of cricket.

First Big Forum and Future Expectations

Among the first of the big events organized by the Cricket Connects Advisory Council is to be the second World Cricket Connects Forum, taking place on June 7 and 8, at Lord’s. This will just be before the final of the World Test Championship, and it’s going to have some of cricket’s most important influencers talking about the sport.

The chief of MCC, Mark Nicholas, says he is ecstatic about the birth of this new advisory council: “We are ready to welcome some of the most influential faces of cricket to discuss some important points of cricket.” His excitement only reflects the intention of the advisory council, where it strives hard to bring positive change in the game and see cricket become something better.

The Cricket Connects Advisory Council will differ from the World Cricket Committee in that it is not a non-decision-making body but will have the authority to advise the ICC on all matters, determine the way forward for world cricket, and be convened throughout the year for discussion, leading up to an annual meeting for reviewing progress made and planning for the future.

A New Era for Cricket’s Global Development

This represents a new stage for cricket’s governing and development structures. The Cricket Connects Advisory Council, now officially recognized, will make it possible to have a global team of leading cricketing professionals, who can address the great issues and forge the future course of the sport. The cricketers joined by business leaders on this advisory council will bring forth the much-needed integration in the context of the contemporary challenges facing the sport.

Full List of Advisory Council Members
– Kumar Sangakkara (Chairman)
– Anurag Dahiya (ICC Chief Commercial Officer)
– Chris Dehring (Cricket West Indies CEO)
– Sourav Ganguly
– Sanjog Gupta (Jio Star CEO – Sports)
– Mel Jones
– Heather Knight
– Trudy Lindblad (Cricket Scotland CEO)
– Heather Mills (World Cricketer Association President)
– Imtiaz Patel (Former SuperSport President)
– Jay Shah
– Graeme Smith
– Andrew Strauss

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