Jay Shah, the current Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), is reportedly set to become the new chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC). A report by “The Age” on Wednesday stated that Shah is expected to be elevated to the position after the current ICC chairman, Greg Barclay, decided not to pursue a third term.Barclay’s tenure will end on November 30, 2024.
Support from Key Cricket Boards
Cricket Australia, the England and Wales Cricket Board, and other full-time ICC members are said to strongly back Jay Shah. The deadline to file nominations for the ICC chairman’s post is August 27, 2024, but no official confirmation has been made by Shah or the ICC.
Greg Barclay, ICC chairman since November 2020, announced he won’t seek a third term. His decision comes amidst a $3 billion dispute between the ICC and its major broadcast partner, Star. Barclay’s exit opens the door for Jay Shah to potentially take over.
Election Process and Eligibility
The election for the ICC chairman requires a simple majority of nine votes out of 16. The term for the new chairman will begin on December 1, 2024. Jay Shah, currently heading ICC’s powerful Finance and Commercial Affairs (F&CA) sub-committee, has garnered strong support due to his influence and goodwill among ICC members.
Jay Shah’s Tenure and Age
If Shah assumes the ICC chairmanship, he could become the youngest ICC chairman in history at 35 years old. He still has one year left as BCCI secretary before he must go on a mandatory 3 year cooling-off period, as per the BCCI constitution. Shah’s move to ICC would make him the latest in a line of prominent Indians to lead, following Jagmohan Dalmiya, Sharad Pawar, N Srinivasan, and Shashank Manohar.