Jay Shah has been elected as the new chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC). He will succeed Greg Barclay and will assume charge on December 1. The secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was elected unopposed as no nomination was filed against him.
At 35, Shah will be the youngest head of the ICC. He will hold a term of three years with an option to continue for three more years. Shah will now have to relinquish his BCCI post, which he has held since 2019.
The ICC said Shah was the sole nominee for the Chair and it is learnt that a handful of sets of nominations were filed on his behalf. As per the rules, the nominations are filed by the 16 existing directors, proposing his name. The candidate himself need not file the papers.
One of the important and immediate jobs before Shah is to find a new Independent Woman Director for the ICC. The position is vacant, as first reported by Cricbuzz since Indra Nooyi ended her tenure last month. Another major responsibility is to handle the request of Disney Star, which seeks renegotiation on the mega $ 3 billion broadcast deal. Most importantly, he will also have to ensure smooth transition of power at the BCCI by finding a suitable candidate for the secretary post.
Shah expressed his intent to advance the global reach and popularity of cricket, particularly with its upcoming inclusion in the LA 2028 Olympics - a moment he views as a pivotal opportunity for the sport's growth.
"I am humbled by the nomination as the Chair of the International Cricket Council," Shah stated. "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."
He added: "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."
The ICC said: "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."
Source: Cricbuzz