Elected unopposed, Jay Shah will assume role on 1st December, 2024

Current Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Honorary Secretary since October 2019, Jay Shah has been elected unopposed as the next Independent Chair of the International Cricket Council (ICC). Jay, who is also the Chair of the Asian Cricket Council since January 2021, will assume this prestigious role on 1st December, 2024 at an young age of 36.

He was the sole nominee for the chairmanship after the current ICC Chair Greg Barclay had expressed his decision on 20th August, of not seeking  a third term and would step down at the conclusion of his tenure in November later this year.

Jay Shah, who is the son of India’s current Union Home Minister, Amit Shah in the process will join the illustrious list of Indian cricket administrators to head the ICC after Jagmohan Dalmiya, Sharad Pawar, N Srinivasan and Shashank Manohar.

Upon his election, Jay in a statement expressed his intent to advancing the global reach and popularity of cricket, particularly with its upcoming inclusion in the LA 2028 Olympics—a moment he views as a pivotal opportunity for the sport’s growth.

“I am humbled by the nomination as the Chair of the International Cricket Council,” Jay Shah stated.

The BCCI-appointed ICC director and also the chairperson of the ICC’s Finance and Commercial Affairs sub-committee since 2023, Jay further added, “I am committed to working closely with the ICC team and our member nations to further globalize 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. For this we will build on the valuable lessons learned, 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.”

Jay’s election marks a new chapter for the ICC as it seeks to expand the game’s reach and continue its evolution on the global stage and a loss for BCCI and ACC at the top level as he would have to relinquish these posts, before taking over the world cricket body, which has more than 100 members countries in its fold.

Photo Above : Current BCCI Honorary Secretary Jay Shah, 35, will assume the prestigious role of ICC Chairman on 1st December, 2024, after being elected unopposed (Photo Courtesy BCCI