On Tuesday, Jay Shah was elected unopposed as the independent chair of the International Cricket Council (ICC). The current honorary secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) takes over the role from Greg Barclay and will officially assume his new role on December 1, 2024.
After being elected as ICC’s new chair Shah, expressed his dedication to expanding cricket’s global presence, particularly with the sport’s inclusion in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
It is worth noting that Shah was the sole nominee for the position of independent chair of the ICC. According to a recent media report, the ICC has 16 members, and the current BCCI secretary had the support of 15 during the nomination process. It also revealed the role of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), stating they were a ‘mute spectator’.
“There wasn’t any word from PCB. Not that it was required because Shah had overwhelming support from the members. But the Pakistan board preferred to play the role of a spectator during the entire process,” the report in News 18 read.
“I am humbled by the nomination as the Chair of the International Cricket Council. 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,” Jay Shah said after his selection.
“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,” he added.
After Shah was selected as ICC’s new chair, he has garnered widespread acclaim from the global cricketing community. Indian cricket icons, including head coach Gautam Gambhir, captain Rohit Sharma, and players Hardik Pandya, and KL Rahul have all extended their congratulations for his new role.
