Last Updated on 3 months by Charbel Coorey
Jay Shah was elected unopposed as the new chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC). The current BCCI secretary will be the youngest ICC chair at 36 years of age by the time he starts.
Shah will begin the role on December 1, replacing Greg Barclay. As reported by ESPNcricinfo, the board of directors nominated Shah only for the role. An election would have taken place more than one candidate was nominated.
“I am humbled by the nomination as the Chair of the International Cricket Council. I am committed to working closely with the ICC team and our member nations to further globalise cricket,” Shah said in an ICC statement.
However, not all fans share those views. Many believe Shah’s appointment as ICC chair will only see India get stronger at the expense of cricket’s growth on a global stage.
From a personal perspective, I think it’s important to judge Shah properly once in the role. While there were downpoints in his tenure as BCCI secretary – such as the mismanagement of the 2023 ODI World Cup – there have been excellent developments under Shah’s watch that provide hope he can propel cricket forward.
For starters, Shah is an advocate for Test cricket. “While the T20 is a naturally exciting format, it is equally important that Test cricket remains a priority for everyone as it forms the bedrock of our game,” he said. “We must see to it that cricketers are driven to longer format and our efforts will be channelised towards this goal.”
Shah is also in support of a dedicated fund to help make Test cricket more financially viable for players outside the “big three” nations. While the US$10-15 million figure may seem small compared to the astronomical amounts seen in T20s, it is the kind of progress that has not been made previously.
Outside of Test cricket, Shah has helped cricket’s entry into the 2028 LA Olympics. This would have not been possible without the backing of the BCCI, who have previously resisted joining the Olympics. The games can help facilitate the introduction of cricket to millions of new fans around the globe.
Another positive is Shah’s contribution to the women’s game. The Women’s Premier League (WPL) has been a roaring success, both financially and on the field. He also helped implement equal match fees for male and female cricketers.
“I’m pleased to announce BCCI’s first step towards tackling discrimination. We are implementing a pay equity policy for our contracted women cricketers. The match fee for both Men and Women Cricketers will be the same as we move into a new era of gender equality in Indian Cricket,” Shah tweeted in 2022.
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