Jay Shah Takes Charge as ICC Chairman, Sets Vision for Cricket’s Global Growth: Jay Shah, ex-secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), took over as independent chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) on December 1, 2024. Unopposed, the new incumbent takes over from Greg Barclay, who became the ICC Chairman in 2020. Shah starts his term when cricket is about to debut in the Olympics at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
In his opening address, Jay Shah argued for a balanced format. He stressed the maintenance of Test sanctity coupled with the thrill of T20: “Test cricket forms the bedrock of our game, and we must ensure its relevance alongside the increasing allure of T20,” Shah stated.
He stressed another pillar of his leadership: inclusiveness. Shah will increase his investment in women’s and disabled cricket, strive globally to make it more visible and vibrant, and develop the sport in newer and untraditional markets, taking advantage of cricket’s entry into the Olympic family for broader and more global growth.
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As Shah steps into this distinguished position, he finds himself saddled with a plethora of tasks, including managing the complicated international calendar and boosting cricket’s commercial viability. This approach is expected to reorient cricket leadership toward innovation and collaboration to ensure cricket’s long-run growth in an increasingly brutal sporting environment.
