Jay Shah has been unanimously chosen as the new chair of the International Cricket Council (ICC), succeeding Greg Barclay. He will officially assume the role on December 1.
At just 35 years old, Shah, who currently serves as the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), becomes the youngest individual ever to hold this prestigious position. Following Barclay’s announcement that he would not pursue a third term after serving as ICC chair since 2020, the board of directors had until August 27 to submit nominations for his successor. An election would have been necessary if more than one candidate was nominated, but Shah was the sole nominee, ensuring his appointment.
Expressing his gratitude, Shah said he was honoured to be nominated as the ICC Chair. He stated his commitment to collaborating closely with the ICC team and member nations to further globalise the sport. Shah highlighted the importance of maintaining a balance between different formats, integrating advanced technologies, and introducing cricket to new global markets. He expressed a vision to make cricket more inclusive and popular on a global scale.
Shah acknowledged that while it's crucial to build on past successes, it’s equally important to embrace new ideas and innovations to elevate the sport’s global appeal. He noted that cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics marks a significant milestone that could drive unprecedented growth for the sport.
In a statement from the BCCI, Shah reaffirmed his dedication to Test cricket and discussed plans to allocate more resources to women's cricket and cricket for differently-abled players. He also expressed a desire to establish a dedicated talent search program during his tenure, seeking support for this initiative. Shah stressed the importance of keeping Test cricket at the forefront, as it is the foundation of the game, and vowed to focus efforts on encouraging players towards the longer format.
Shah looks forward to a term filled with collaboration, aiming to break down barriers that have slowed cricket’s progress. He highlighted that challenges should be seen as opportunities and expressed confidence that together, the cricket community can turn obstacles into victories. He invited everyone to join him on this journey, united by a shared passion for the game and a belief in its potential.
Shah is the fifth Indian to lead the ICC, following in the footsteps of Jagmohan Dalmiya, Sharad Pawar, N Srinivasan, and Shashank Manohar.
Shah’s journey in cricket administration began in Gujarat in 2009, and he has been serving as BCCI secretary since October 2019. He joined the ICC's Finance & Commercial Affairs (F&CA) committee in 2022 and became its chair in 2023. Shah was re-elected as BCCI secretary in 2022, with his term set to run until 2025. However, upon assuming the ICC chair, he will need to step down from his roles at both the BCCI and the ICC's F&CA committee. Shah also served as the president of the Asian Cricket Council from 2021 to 2024.