On December 1, Jay Shah embarked on a momentous journey as the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Chairman. In the footsteps of illustrious administrators like Jagmohan Dalmiya, Sharad Pawar, Shashank Manohar, and N Srinivasan, the 36-year-old is the fifth Indian to hold the position of head of the world’s top cricket governing body.
In 2009, Shah started working for the Gujarat Cricket Association as an administrator. During his time there, he was instrumental in the construction of Ahmedabad’s largest cricket stadium in the world. Shah became the youngest Honorary Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in 2019, marking a major advancement.
He continued to advance in his career by assuming important leadership roles, such as Chair of the ICC’s Finance and Commercial Affairs Committee (FCAC) and President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). When Shah took over as ICC Chair, he spoke of a distinct and aspirational vision for cricket’s future.
“I am honored to assume the position of ICC Chair and appreciative of the ICC Directors’ and Member Boards’ support and confidence,” Shah said in a statement.
According to Jay Shah, cricket has enormous global potential.
Shah believes that cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles presents a chance to broaden cricket’s appeal to a wider audience and increase its worldwide reach. Additionally, he is dedicated to promoting women’s cricket.
“As we try to make cricket more accessible and interesting for fans around the world and get ready for the LA28 Olympic Games, this is an exciting time for the sport. With several formats coexisting and the desire to boost the women’s game’s growth, we are at a pivotal point in time. In order to take advantage of these chances and elevate cricket to new heights, I’m excited to collaborate closely with the ICC team and Member nations,” he said.
One pressing issue at hand is coming up with a workable solution for the Champions Trophy, which was initially supposed to be held in Pakistan. Shah praised Greg Barclay, who has been in charge of the ICC since November 2020, for his many accomplishments.
“I also want to thank Greg Barclay for his four years of leadership in the job and the accomplishments that have been made during that time. I’m excited to collaborate closely with the ICC staff and the Member nations to broaden the game’s appeal and development on a worldwide scale,” Shah said in closing.
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