Jay Shah, BCCI Secretary and Asian Cricket Council Chair, Elected ICC New Chairman.
Jay Shah, the current Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Chairman of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), has been elected as the new Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC). Shah will officially assume the role in December 2024, succeeding outgoing Chairman Greg Barclay.
Shah’s election marks a significant milestone for Indian cricket, as he becomes the second Indian to hold the prestigious position after Narayanaswami Srinivasan.
At just 35 years old, Shah made history as the youngest chairman of the ICC. He follows in the footsteps of notable Indian leaders like Jagmohan Dalmiya, Sharad Pawar, N Srinivasan, and Shashank Manohar, who have also held this prestigious position.
Jay Shah, the sole nominee for the ICC Chairman position, was officially appointed to the role. In his acceptance speech, Shah expressed his commitment to growing the popularity of cricket worldwide. He highlighted the upcoming inclusion of cricket in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics as a significant opportunity to introduce the sport to new audiences.
“I am honored to be nominated as the Chair of the International Cricket Council,” stated Jay Shah. “I am committed to working collaboratively with the ICC team and our member nations to expand cricket’s global influence. We are at a pivotal moment where it is increasingly important to strike a balance between multiple formats, adopt advanced technologies, and introduce our marquee events to new global markets. Our aim is to make cricket more inclusive and popular than ever before.”
He added, “While we will draw upon the valuable lessons learned, we must also adopt a fresh perspective and innovation to foster the love for cricket worldwide. The inclusion of our sport in the Olympics at LA 2028 marks a significant turning point for the growth of cricket, and I am confident that it will propel the sport forward in unprecedented ways.”
Greg Barclay, the outgoing ICC chairman, announced that he would not seek a third term and would step down from the position at the end of November. Barclay served as the Independent ICC Chair for four years, having been appointed in November 2020 and re-elected in 2022.
Barclay’s decision to step down paved the way for Jay Shah to take over as the new ICC chairman. Shah, a prominent figure in Indian cricket and a member of the ICC board, was unanimously elected as the next Independent Chair of the ICC.