(Source X)
According to former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali on his YouTube channel, Jay Shah, the Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and son of the Indian Home Minister Amit Shah, is reportedly poised to take over as the next chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) by November 2024, just before the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Shah’s significant position as Secretary of the BCCI positions him as a frontrunner for the upcoming ICC chairman role. Being the most influential full-member nation within the ICC, the BCCI’s clout further bolsters Shah’s candidacy. However, official confirmation regarding his potential candidacy for the ICC chairmanship remains pending.
Nevertheless, Basit Ali expressed strong confidence in Shah assuming the ICC chairman’s role soon. Ali conveyed this assertion in a concise video posted on his YouTube channel.“Let me give you breaking news: In the coming few months, Jay Shah will be the ICC Chairman.”
The potential bid for another term by current ICC Chairman Greg Barclay introduces a layer of complexity to the race for the organization’s top position. Earlier reports from the PTI news agency underscored the ICC’s keen interest in Jay Shah’s potential ascent to the chairman’s role.
The ICC source was quoted as saying by PTI: “It is not about how but when, as he still has one year left as BCCI secretary before his cooling-off period in the Indian Board starts in 2025 as per the constitution. However, if he has to take over in 2025, then Barclay can’t complete his third term of two years, from December 2024 to December 2026. There is a school of thought that what if ICC’s chairmanship term changes from three terms of two years each to two terms of three years, so the cumulative term can remain six years?”
Meanwhile, Basit Ali called upon the ICC to address the situation amidst reports suggesting that the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 might adopt a hybrid model due to the Indian government’s reluctance to send its team to Pakistan for the tournament.
Ali emphasized that if the ICC fails to take decisive action this time, it could jeopardize the organization, citing the significance of India-Pakistan matches in global cricket. He also accused the ICC of neglecting Pakistani interests by approving the budget for the Champions Trophy 2025 without addressing these concerns.
Basit Ali said on his YouTube channel: “This is the last chance for the ICC to make a formula. This happens in every ICC event. In Pakistan, the Champions Trophy is taking place after many years. And there is a lot of noise. Everyone is happy that the budget has been passed. But I feel that the ICC is playing now. Playing with the Pakistanis. If the ICC closes its eyes this time, then cricket will be destroyed. ICC will have to find a solution to this.”
