Jay Shah elected unopposed as ICC chairman, succeeding in key global cricket role

PTC News Desk: Jay Shah, the current honorary secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has been elected unopposed as the next Independent Chair of the International Cricket Council (ICC). Shah will officially assume the role on December 1, 2024. His appointment follows the announcement on August 20 that the current ICC Chair, Greg Barclay, will not seek a third term and will step down at the end of his current tenure in November.

Shah, who was the only nominee for the chairmanship, expressed his gratitude and commitment to advancing the global presence of cricket. He emphasized the importance of capitalizing on cricket's upcoming inclusion in the LA 2028 Olympics to enhance the sport's reach and appeal.

“I am humbled by the nomination as Chair of the International Cricket Council,” Shah said. “My commitment is to work closely with the ICC team and our member nations to further globalize cricket. We are at a pivotal moment where it is crucial to balance different formats of the game, promote the adoption of advanced technologies, and introduce our marquee events to new global markets. Our aim is to make cricket more inclusive and popular than ever before.”

Shah highlighted the need to blend valuable lessons learned with fresh thinking and innovation. He believes that the sport's inclusion in the 2028 Olympics represents a transformative opportunity for cricket, which he is confident will propel the sport to new heights.

“While 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,” Shah added.

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