Jay Shah, the Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has officially assumed the role of Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC). He was elected unopposed on August 27, and his term officially began on December 1.
Replacing Former Chairman Greg Barclay
Greg Barclay, whose term ended on November 30, had already announced his resignation in August. Jay Shah will serve as the ICC Chairman for the next three years.
Background of Jay Shah
Jay Shah has served as the Secretary of the BCCI for five years and is the son of Amit Shah, India’s Minister of Home Affairs, who is affiliated with the Hindu nationalist party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Statement and ICC’s Response
Jay Shah expressed pride in his new role and thanked the ICC Directors and member boards for their support. The ICC has also confirmed that Jay Shah has started fulfilling his duties as Chairman.
The Champions Trophy Dispute
Before Jay Shah’s appointment, there were reports of a deadlock between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and BCCI regarding the hosting of the Champions Trophy. There are expectations that a resolution could emerge in the upcoming meeting.
Hope for an Agreement on the Hybrid Model
Sources indicate that if the cricket boards of India and Pakistan agree on a mutual model, it may be named something other than the “hybrid model.” Under this agreement, both teams would avoid playing in each other’s countries over the next three years.
Jay Shah’s Challenge
As ICC Chairman, Jay Shah faces the challenge of managing global cricket affairs more efficiently, while also being responsible for resolving the ongoing cricketing disputes between Pakistan and India.
