The spotlight in the International Cricket Council (ICC) has been on Jay Shah over the last couple of weeks. The 36-year-old became the youngest-ever ICC President and started his term on the 1st of December. It was earlier this year that Jay Shah was unanimously elected as the new president of the ICC.
He visited the ICC headquarters in Dubai recently and presided over a meeting. He has got a big backing from former India coach Ravi Shastri to excel in his new role as ICC Chair.
Shastri spoke highly about Jay’s ability to learn things quickly. He thinks that Jay was proactive with the BCCI and understood the demands of the job swiftly. His impact with the BCCI makes Shastri believe that he will do ‘wonders’ with the ICC.
“Every Indian should feel proud. He is a young man. But what I liked about Jay even when I was the coach and when he had just become the BCCI secretary was his ability to grasp things around him. He did it so quickly. He understood what was needed for the BCCI. And what I liked about him was the way he took everyone along. He had his fingers on the job all the time. I think he will do wonders even in the ICC,” Ravi Shastri was quoted saying to ICC.
The former India head coach made a bold prediction as well. He thinks that Jay will take ICC to new heights in the next two or three years.
“I think a lot of people might be surprised as to how can he go so quickly to the ICC. I think they will get a pleasant shock when he shows them the coffers of the ICC in two years or three years’ time because he is no one’s fool. He has learnt very quickly, dealing with the BCCI and that experience will hold him in good stead,” the 62-year-old added.
Jay Shah made a difference in players’ well-being: Ravi Shastri
Shastri admitted that Jay Shah made a difference when it came to the well-being of the players. The former BCCI secretary went the extra mile to show care and concern for the players. It is something that the former India head coach noticed during COVID-19 and even post that. He believes that Jay Shah will drive the ICC and take everyone along well.
“For me, what was also good to see was his concern for the well-being of the players. And I can’t say that it was with all the others who were there before him. There were secretaries and presidents in the past who were extremely efficient in what they did, but just extra concern for the players and their well-being, and things of that sort. I noticed quite a bit of that during the Covid time. Once he settled into the job, one year down the line, you could see the difference in the way he was confident in the way he went about his job. I don’t think he will be fazed, just like he took the whole board along with him, he will take all the ICC members along with him,” Shastri explained.
