Jay Shah has been elected as the new Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), becoming the youngest ever to reach this position at the age of 35. He will succeed Greg Barclay, the New Zealander who decided not to run for a third consecutive two-year term.
In addition to his current role as the Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Jay Shah also serves as the President of the Asian Cricket Council, making him the fifth Indian to hold this high-profile position.
Upon his appointment, Jay Shah emphasized that his priorities as chairman would include the globalization of the game. He also stated his commitment to finding ways to sustain all three formats of the game, ensuring that each format continues to thrive and attract fans globally.
Jay Shah’s early involvement in cricket administration began in 2009 at the district level through the Central Board of Cricket, Ahmedabad. His administrative journey progressed to the state level, where he functioned as an executive in the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) and was later appointed as the joint secretary of the GCA in the same year. During his tenure, he advocated for various facilities and initiated coaching programs.
In 2019, he became the youngest BCCI secretary to be elected and played a key role in the construction of the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Recently, Jay Shah also announced prize money for the Player of the Match and Player of the Tournament in all women’s and junior cricket tournaments under the Domestic Cricket Programme, while also being actively involved in the launch of Women’s Premier League in 2022 and BCCI’s pay parity policy. In January 2021, Shah assumed the role of President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) who focused on developing cricket in Asian countries.
Following Jay Shah’s appointment as the new ICC Chairman, many former and current female cricketers reacted and congratulated him on the social media platform ‘X,’ formerly known as Twitter.
Former Indian skipper Mithali Raj congratulated Shah on becoming the youngest ICC Chairman, noting his vocal support for expanding cricket. She also highlighted that Shah’s leadership could make the sport more inclusive, particularly through the promotion of women’s cricket.
Smriti Mandhana, the star Indian batter, also extended her congratulations to Jay Shah, expressing anticipation for “exciting times ahead” under his leadership, as did Indian legend Jhulan Goswami, mentioning “excited to see the possibilities.”
Current Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur similarly congratulated him on his election as the new Chairman, showing support for his vision and the potential positive impact on the future of world cricket.
Warmest congratulations to @JayShah on being elected ICC Chairman. Excited to see the possibilities ✨#JayShah #Congratulations
— Jhulan Goswami (@JhulanG10) August 28, 2024
Congratulations, @JayShah sir, on being elected as the youngest ICC Chairman. Your vision for cricket’s global expansion and focus on making the sport more inclusive will undoubtedly elevate the game to new heights. Looking forward to seeing your influence shape the future of…
— Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) August 28, 2024
Congratulations to @JayShah Sir on his appointment as the ICC Chairman. Exciting times ahead! pic.twitter.com/uEPdIfznub
— Smriti Mandhana (@mandhana_smriti) August 27, 2024
Congratulations @JayShah Sir for being elected as the ICC chair.
— Harmanpreet Kaur (@ImHarmanpreet) August 27, 2024
