(Getty Images)
Jay Shah’s appointment as ICC Chairman has made history, as he becomes the youngest to assume the role for a two-year term. Johnny Grave, CEO of Cricket West Indies, shared insights on Shah’s unanimous selection.
In an interview with the Indian Express, Grave highlighted Shah’s tenure as BCCI Secretary, noting his oversight of significant events like the 2023 ODI World Cup and his success in securing substantial broadcast deals for the IPL and India’s bilateral series.
Shah was instrumental in launching the Women’s Premier League (WPL), a strategic move that significantly increased the visibility of women’s cricket.
“The ICC board doesn’t want to waste too much time on internal politics. If you look at Jay’s leadership at the BCCI, it has been wonderful. He has hosted the Women’s Premier League, successfully oversaw the 50-over World Cup in India and has signed huge broadcast deals with IPL and for BCCI,” Cricket West Indies CEO Johnny Grave as quoted by The Indian Express.
Grave also noted that Shah meets the ICC’s expectations for their new chairman. The hope is that under his leadership, Shah will replicate his BCCI successes to benefit global cricket.
An anonymous board member was quoted saying, “We are talking about the Indian sub-continent rights holder, who contributes the major chunk of the revenue. We have seen Jay pull off lucrative deals for IPL and bilateral cricket. It is the need of the hour at the ICC as well”.
One of Shah’s key challenges will be reviving Test cricket, as there is a noticeable disparity between the top teams and others. Efforts will be needed to encourage less competitive teams to embrace the format.
As BCCI Secretary, Shah had implemented the ‘Test Cricket Incentive Scheme,’ which provided extra financial rewards for players participating in Test matches. This initiative was introduced after India’s victory over England in Dharamsala in March 2024.
