Advertisement

After finishing his five-year term as the secretary of the Indian Cricket Board, Jay Shah became the chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Sunday. At 36, he is the youngest person and the fifth Indian to lead the global sports organization.

For the unversed, Jay Shah was elected unopposed in August of this year to take over from New Zealand’s Greg Barclay, who ended his four-year tenure as the ICC Chairman. Shah’s rise to the top post makes him the third Indian to be ICC chairman in the last four terms.

Advertisement

Jay Shah begins tenure as new ICC chairman officially

However, unlike the previous two Indians – N Srinivasan (2014-15) and Shashank Manohar (2015-20) – Shah has full backing from the powerful BCCI, which is important for decision-making in the ICC.

When Jay Shah became BCCI secretary in 2019, India started to regain its influence in the ICC. The Indian board played a key role in the appointment of Greg Barclay. As the head of the ICC Finance and Commercial Affairs Committee, Shah showed that the BCCI contributes 85% of the ICC’s global revenue, of which India gets 38.5%. India’s large cricket fan base and growing demand for the sport were also crucial in bringing cricket back to the Olympics, starting with Los Angeles 2028.

“I am deeply honoured. Cricket is a sport that unites millions across the globe and this is a moment of immense responsibility and opportunity,” Shah said in a statement. “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.”

Jay Shah takes is the youngest ever ICC chairman

A key issue for Shah is the India-Pakistan rivalry, with India refusing to play in Pakistan for next year’s Champions Trophy. The matches are likely to be moved to the UAE, but Shah must manage this carefully to avoid future problems.

He’ll also need to decide whether to address the imbalance of Test matches outside the Big Three (India, England, Australia) and if steps should be taken to boost Test cricket while T20s rise in popularity. There’s talk of a Test match fund for smaller boards, but no action yet.

“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. “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.”

The ICC chairman’s term is now three years. Since the position is independent, Shah will also step down from his role as president of the Asian Cricket Council.

ALSO READ: 13-Year-Old IPL Millionaire Vaibhav Suryavanshi Fails To Shine In U19 Asia Cup vs Pakistan

Advertisement