In December of this year, Jay Shah of India will succeed Greg Barclay as the next Independent Chair of the International Cricket Council (ICC). He was chosen on Tuesday without facing any opposition.
On December 1, 2024, Shah—who has been the Chair of the Asian Cricket Council since January 2021 and the Honorary Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) since October 2019—will take on this esteemed position. Following the decision of incumbent Chair Barclay not to pursue a third term, Shah was the only candidate for the chairperson.
Following his election, Shah declared his intention to expand cricket’s appeal on a global scale, especially in light of the sport’s impending inclusion in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, which he sees as a critical window of opportunity for the game’s development.
“I am humbled by the nomination as the Chair of the International Cricket Council,” Shah stated in a statement.
“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.”
“We will build on the valuable lessons learnt, but we also need to embrace fresh thinking and innovation to elevate the love for cricket worldwide,” said Shah, who will turn 36 next month. Cricket’s development has reached a critical turning point with its participation in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, and I have no doubt that this will propel the game ahead in previously unheard-of ways.
With Shah’s election, the ICC embarks on a new chapter in its efforts to broaden the game’s appeal and maintain its advancement on the international scene. He is the International Cricket Council’s fifth-ranking Indian to occupy a significant position.
N. Srinivasan (2014-15) and Shashank Manohar (2016-2020) have held the post of Chairman of the ICC while Jagmohan Dalmiya (1997 to 2000) and Sharad Pawar (2010-2012) are two Indians who have held the position of President of the International Cricket Council in the past.