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On Tuesday, Jay Shah was elected as the new chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), with the BCCI secretary set to assume the role starting December 1. At 35, Shah becomes the youngest ICC chairman, having been elected unopposed due to the lack of competing nominations.
The ICC, which currently has 16 members due to the absence of a Women Director, saw Shah garner support from 15 of the 16 members during the nomination process. Notably, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) remained passive and did not participate actively in the proceedings.
Sources indicate that the PCB did not make any official statements or take a position, while influential cricket boards such as the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket Australia (CA) actively supported Shah.
“There wasn’t any word from PCB. Not that it was required because Shah had overwhelming support from the members. But the Pakistan board preferred to play the role of a spectator during the entire process,” says a source close to developments.
Shah, who will need to step down from his role as BCCI secretary, is set to commence his three-year term as ICC Chairman later this year. A key responsibility during his tenure will be overseeing preparations for cricket’s historic inclusion in the 2028 Olympics.
“With cricket poised to make its historic debut at the Olympics in 2028, we stand at the precipice of a transformative era. This juncture is not merely a milestone, it’s a clarion call for all of us involved in this magnificent sport. It is my privilege to lead the ICC during such an exciting period in our shared journey,” Shah said in a statement.
The global cricket governing body is already experiencing a shift as two senior staff members, Claire Furlong and Chris Tetley, prepare to leave their positions. Additionally, a comprehensive investigation is in progress concerning the organization of the 2024 T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies.
The ICC has already posted a job listing for a new Head of Events, and more changes are anticipated once Shah assumes leadership in December. There are strong hints of another cultural review of the ICC.
The previous review took place in 2021, leading to the dismissal of CEO Manu Sawhney. The PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) UK report was only shared with the chairman and select ICC Board members before it vanished.
Shah is expected to bring a sense of stability to the ICC and replicate the successes he achieved during his two terms as secretary of the BCCI.
Throughout his tenure, Shah significantly enhanced the BCCI’s financial stability, introduced numerous initiatives to elevate domestic cricket, and launched the Women’s Premier League. He also spearheaded the landmark decision on pay parity, improved infrastructure across all cricket centers, constructed a new National Cricket Academy (NCA), and oversaw India’s successful hosting of the most successful World Cup to date. Additionally, he ended India’s long wait for an ICC trophy with the team’s victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup earlier this year.
Shah has just over three months remaining as BCCI secretary before embarking on what promises to be an exciting new chapter in Dubai.
