BCCI Secretary Jay Shah becomes youngest-ever ICC chairman

BCCI Secretary Jay Shah on Tuesday was named as the new International Cricket Council (ICC) Chairman, after he was elected unopposedly.

At 35, Shah has become the youngest ever to hold the position. Shah takes over the role from Greg Barclay, who decided against seeking a third term in the office.

“I am humbled by the nomination as the Chair of the International Cricket Council,” Shah stated on his appointment.

As his top priority, Shah pressed on making the game global – with the next Olympics in four years’ time in Los Angeles – where cricket will feature for the first time in 128 years – a key moment in the game’s history.

“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, “While we will build on the valuable lessons learned, we must also embrace fresh thinking and innovation to elevate the love for cricket worldwide. The inclusion of our sport in the Olympics at LA 2028 represents a significant inflection point for the growth of cricket, and I am confident that it will drive the sport forward in unprecedented ways.”

Last week, The Indian Express had reported that Shah was a frontrunner to head the world cricket governing body’s office.

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His appointment as the ICC chief means Shah, whose term as the BCCI Secretary was due to come to an end next year, will have to leave his role at the BCCI office. This, given the fact that since 2016, the ICC Chair has become an independent post – meaning that an elected candidate cannot hold two offices.

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