August 27, 2024 — In a significant development for global cricket, Jay Shah has been elected unopposed as the next Independent Chair of the International Cricket Council (ICC). The announcement was made by the ICC on Tuesday, August 27, confirming Shah’s ascension to one of the most influential roles in international sports governance. Shah, who has served as the BCCI Honorary Secretary since October 2019 and as Chair of the Asian Cricket Council since January 2021, will officially assume the ICC Chairmanship on December 1, 2024.
Shah will become the fifth Indian to lead the ICC, following in the footsteps of Jagmohan Dalmiya, Sharad Pawar, N Srinivasan, and Shashank Manohar. His appointment marks a historic moment, as he will also be the youngest individual to ever hold this prestigious position.
The outgoing Chairman, Greg Barclay, will step down at the end of November after completing his term. Barclay, who took over as ICC Chair in November 2020, was re-elected unopposed in 2022. Although eligible for a third and final term, Barclay chose not to stand for re-election, paving the way for Shah’s uncontested rise.
In his first statement following the announcement, Shah expressed his gratitude and outlined his vision for the future of cricket. “I am humbled by the nomination as the Chair of the International Cricket Council,” Shah said in the ICC release. “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.”
Shah also highlighted the significance of cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, calling it a pivotal moment for the sport’s growth. “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,” he added.
As Shah prepares to take the helm, the cricketing world eagerly anticipates the changes and innovations he will bring to the ICC, aiming to elevate the global appeal and inclusivity of the sport.
