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On Tuesday, August 27, BCCI secretary Jay Shah was elected unopposed as the next ICC chairman, making him the youngest person ever to hold the position. The 35-year-old Shah, who has served as BCCI secretary since 2019, will succeed 62-year-old Greg Barclay, who opted not to seek a third consecutive two-year term. Shah will officially take over on December 1.
Shah has become the fifth Indian to be appointed to this prestigious role.
Indians who have served as ICC chairman
Jagmohan Dalmiya: Jagmohan Dalmiya, the former BCCI president, was the first Indian to become ICC President. Unanimously elected in 1997, he served for three years. Dalmiya was notable for being both the first Asian and the first non-cricketer to lead the ICC. During his tenure, he was pivotal in granting Test status to Bangladesh and supporting their successful bid to host the inaugural ICC Knockout Trophy in 1998.
Sharad Pawar: Sharad Pawar assumed the role of ICC President in 2010, succeeding David Morgan. The former BCCI president served in the position for two years.
N Srinivasan: Former BCCI President N. Srinivasan assumed the role of ICC Chairman on June 26, 2014, following constitutional amendments approved at the annual conference in Melbourne. He was removed from the position on November 9, 2015, when the BCCI chose to recall him and nominate Shashank Manohar as his successor.
Shashank Manohar: Shashank Manohar took over as ICC Chairman from Srinivasan in November 2015 and served for four years before resigning on June 30, 2020.
Jay Shah: On August 27, 2024, BCCI secretary Jay Shah was elected unopposed as the new ICC chairman. At 35, Shah will be the fifth Indian to lead the ICC and the youngest person ever to hold the position. He will succeed Greg Barclay, who chose not to pursue a third term, and will officially take over on December 1, 2024.
Following his election, Shah expressed his commitment to enhancing cricket’s global presence and popularity, with a particular focus on its inclusion in the LA 2028 Olympics.
“I am humbled by the nomination as the Chair of the International Cricket Council,” Shah stated.
“I am committed to working closely with the ICC team and our member nations to further globalise cricket. We stand at a critical juncture where it is increasingly important to balance the coexistence of multiple formats, promote the adoption of advanced technologies, and introduce our marquee events to new global markets. Our goal is to make cricket more inclusive and popular than ever before.”
He added, “While we will build on the valuable lessons learnt, we must also embrace fresh thinking and innovation to elevate the love for cricket worldwide. The inclusion of our sport in the Olympics at LA 2028 represents a significant inflection point for the growth of cricket, and I am confident that it will drive the sport forward in unprecedented ways.”
