Jay Shah, the new ICC Head, is set to assume the role of Chairman starting December 1 after being elected unopposed for the position on Tuesday.. Shah, who is 35, will succeed Greg Barclay, the current Chairman who chose not to seek a third consecutive two-year term. This makes Shah the fifth Indian to hold the top role in global cricket administration.
Shah, who has been the BCCI Secretary since 2019 and is the son of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, will step down from his BCCI role at the board’s Annual General Meeting, expected to be held either in late September or October.
Shah will be the youngest Indian to assume the ICC Chairman role, following in the footsteps of Jagmohan Dalmiya, Sharad Pawar, N Srinivasan, and Shashank Manohar. He was the only candidate for the chairmanship and has expressed his commitment to expanding cricket’s global presence, particularly with its inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
In a statement, Shah expressed his gratitude and emphasized the need to balance different formats of the game, promote new technologies, and introduce cricket to emerging markets.
His election was almost certain given his role in the BCCI, which generates over 75% of the ICC’s global revenue. His nomination was backed by one of the major cricket boards from the SENA group (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia), with another board seconding the nomination.
Shah’s election is well-timed, as he would otherwise have faced a mandatory three-year cooling-off period starting in 2025, following his tenure. The BCCI constitution permits office-bearers to serve for a total of 18 years, nine years in national roles and nine in state units.
However, an individual can only hold an office for a maximum of six consecutive years before a mandatory three-year cooling-off period is required. If all proceeds smoothly, Shah could serve two terms at the ICC and then return to complete his remaining four years in the BCCI as its president starting in 2028.
What Are the Challenges Jay Shah Will Tackle as the New ICC Chairman?
Jay Shah’s immediate challenge as ICC Chairman will be managing the Champions Trophy in Pakistan. Shah, as the former chairman of the Asian Cricket Council, supported the Hybrid Model used in the 2023 Asia Cup, where Pakistan and Sri Lanka co-hosted the event.
With the possibility of the Indian government preventing its team from traveling to Pakistan, Shah may have to use the Hybrid Model again, with matches against India played in Dubai while Pakistan hosts the rest.
Looking ahead, Shah will need to address several key issues. These include securing funding for Test cricket, making sure ODIs remain relevant, and dealing with the impact of T20 leagues on player availability. He’ll also need to create a balanced cricket calendar that gives players enough rest and earning opportunities.
Another important task is promoting cricket’s inclusion in the Olympics, starting with the Los Angeles 2028 Games. Shah is eager to use this chance to grow cricket’s global popularity and is confident that the Olympics will help push the sport to new heights.