Jay Shah elected unopposed as next ICC chairman

Jay Shah elected as ICC chairman, focusing on expanding cricket globally, balancing formats, and promoting cricket in the Olympics.

BCCI secretary Jay Shah will take over as the next ICC chairman on December 1 after being elected unopposed for the top post here in Dubai on Tuesday (August 27, 2024), making him the fifth Indian to reach the pinnacle of global cricket administration.

The 35-year-old Shah, who has been the BCCI secretary since 2019, will take over from 62-year-old incumbent Greg Barclay after the New Zealander decided against running for a third consecutive term of two years.

Mr. Shah, who is the son of union home minister Amit Shah, will relinquish his position in India at the BCCI’s Annual General Meeting likely to be held towards the end of next month or in October.

Mr. Shah became the youngest Indian among the late Jagmohan Dalmiya, Sharad Pawar, N. Srinivasan and Shashank Manohar to take over the high-profile job.

The Ahmedabad-based administrator, who was the sole nominee for the chairmanship, emphasised his commitment to expanding the global reach and popularity of cricket, especially with its upcoming inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

“I am humbled by the nomination as the Chair of the International Cricket Council,” Mr. Shah stated in an ICC release.

He also acknowledged that international cricket stands at a critical juncture, and it would be important to balance the coexistence of multiple formats, promote the adoption of advanced technologies, and introduce marquee events to new global markets.