Jay Shah, the Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), was elected unopposed as the new chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday, August 27. At 35, Shah will become the youngest person ever to lead the global cricket governing body. He will officially begin his role on December 1, 2024.
Current Chairman Barclay Discontinues Third Term
Shah’s election follows the decision of the current ICC chairman, Greg Barclay, not to seek a third term. The ICC had stated earlier this month that elections would only be held if there were multiple candidates. With Shah as the sole nominee, he was elected without opposition.
BCCI To Appoint New Secretary
The BCCI will need to appoint a new secretary by the end of November, as Shah will vacate his current position to take on his new role. Shah has been a prominent figure in cricket administration, having served as the BCCI Secretary since October 2019 and as the Chair of the Asian Cricket Council since January 2021.
Jay Shah’s Highlights Key Goals
In his new role, Shah aims to make cricket a more global sport. He highlighted the upcoming inclusion of cricket in the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 as a key opportunity for the sport’s growth. Shah emphasized the need to balance different formats of the game, adopt new technologies, and introduce major cricket events to new markets.
Jay Shah’s Journey As The Youngest Secretary Of BCCI
Shah’s rise in cricket administration began at the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA), where he played a significant role in developing the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. He joined the BCCI in 2015 and was elected as its youngest secretary at the age of 31 in 2019. Under his leadership, the BCCI achieved notable successes, including a record-breaking broadcasting rights deal for the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2022. Shah’s appointment as ICC Chairman is seen as a significant step for cricket as it looks to expand its global reach. His term as ICC Chairman will be closely watched, especially with cricket’s return to the Olympics, which is expected to boost the sport’s international profile.