Jay Shah becomes youngest ICC chairman, elected unopposed

The current Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary, Jay Shah, became the youngest chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) when he was elected unopposed for the post on August 27 (Tuesday). 

“I am humbled by the nomination as the Chair of the International Cricket Council,” Shah stated in a media release by the ICC. 

“I am committed to working closely with the ICC team and our member nations to further globalize cricket. We stand at a critical juncture where it is increasingly important to balance the coexistence of multiple formats, promote the adoption of advanced technologies, and introduce our marquee events to new global markets. Our goal is to make cricket more inclusive and popular than ever before,” he added. 

The ICC confirmed that Shah's nomination was the only one filed for the post of chairman, and therefore, the Indian was elected unopposed. At 35, Shah has become the youngest-ever chairman of the world cricket governing body. 

“Jay Shah has been elected unopposed as the next Independent Chair of the International Cricket Council (ICC),” ICC said in a media release. 

Shah had filed the nomination after the incumbent chairman, New Zealand’s Greg Barclay had decided not to contest for the third term, having served at the post since 2020. 

“Shah, who has served as the BCCI Honorary Secretary since October 2019 and Chair of the Asian Cricket Council since January 2021, will assume this prestigious role on December 1, 2024,” added ICC. 

Before Shah, N Srinivasan and Shashank Manohar are the two Indians to have served as ICC chairmen. On the other hand, Sharad Pawar and Jagmohan Dalmiya were elected as ICC presidents when the post of chairman was not envisaged. 

Shah further added that his main agenda will be to see cricket succeed at the LA Olympics in 2028, “The inclusion of our sport in the Olympics at LA 2028 represents a significant inflexion point for the growth of cricket, and I am confident that it will drive the sport forward in unprecedented ways,” he said.

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