Why Jay Shah’s tenure is critical for cricket’s global leap

As expected, Jay Shah has been elected as the new chair of International Cricket Council (ICC), with his term set to begin from December 1. As the deadline ended on Tuesday for the directors to file their nominations, Shah was the lonly nominee to replace Greg Barclay. Shah, at 35, will become the youngest to hold office, and will have to step down as the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), as his new role at the ICC is independent.

Shah’s elevation comes at a significant moment for the sport, which will make its Olympics debut in Los Angeles Olympics 2028. He will hold a term of three years as ICC Chair with an option to continue for three more years. With six years ahead of him, Shah gets an opportunity to position cricket as a truly global sport on the back of a heavy fan following and increasing consumption value.

“I am humbled by the nomination as the Chair of the International Cricket Council,” Shah said. “I am committed to working closely with the ICC team and our member nations to further globalise cricket. With cricket poised to make its historic debut at the Olympics in 2028, we stand at the precipice of a transformative era. This juncture is not merely a milestone, it’s a clarion call for all of us involved in this magnificent sport. It is my privilege to lead the ICC during such an exciting period in our shared journey,” said Shah.

Him assuming charges came after Barclay chose not to seek a third term. It is in sync with his steady and influential raise in cricket administration. Having joined the Gujarat Cricket Association in 2009 as an executive board member, he became its joint-secretary in 2013. In 2019, he was elected as the BCCI secretary, a position he continues till date. He is also the president of the Asian Cricket Council.

Challenges ahead

Shah, who will be the fifth Indian– Jagmohan Dalmiya, Sharad Pawar, N Srinivasan, Shashank Manohar–to hold the highest office, also has plenty of challenges ahead of him as cricket is struggling to hit the right balance between the three formats. Shah said more focus will be given to preserve the health of 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. We must see to it that cricketers are driven to the longer format and our efforts will be channelised towards this goal,” he said.

Bridgetown: India’s captain Rohit Sharma with BCCI Secretary Jay Shah after India defeated South Africa in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final cricket match, at Kensington Oval, in Bridgetown, Barbados, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (PTI Photo)

Though there are fears that Shah’s election would further strengthen BCCI’s muscle at the ICC, he has already taken initial steps to win over the fraternity with a plan to introduce a dedicated fund to support Test cricket. The initiative from Cricket Australia, and has the support of the BCCI and ECB, will see Test cricketers get $10,000 from the common pool. It is expected to be Shah’s first big decision.

Although setting up a dedicated fund for Test match would be commendable, Shah will also have to address the challenges of keeping the players happy. Recently, the World Cricketers Association formed a separate committee to look into the scheduling aspect with players believing that the bilateral ODIs and T20Is don’t offer any context. The Indian Express understands that once the dedicated Test match fund is available, there is a strong chance that the existing Future Tours Programme will be re-looked as member boards won’t need to rely heavily on bilateral ODIs and T20Is.

Given the commercial challenges that lie ahead, Shah’s experience as the BCCI secretary when it comes to increasing the board coffers would come in handy. As BCCI secretary in the pandemic years, Shah managed to host two successful IPLs away from home and oversaw the board bag a lucrative broadcast deal in an e-auction. He was also at the forefront of starting the Women’s Premier League in 2023, which has brought more funds into the women’s game.

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The ICC now finds itself in crosswinds, especially after the last T20 World Cup co-hosted in the US and Caribbean running into several issues. Apart from overshooting the budget, the poor quality of pitches took the shine away from the tournament. It has already resulted in one of ICC’s premier broadcasters, Star, putting in a request to renegotiate the broadcast deal that runs till 2027.

“I eagerly anticipate a tenure rich with collaborative efforts, striving to dismantle the barriers that have hindered cricket’s progress. Every challenge we face is an opportunity in disguise, and together, we will transform adversity into triumph. Let’s embark on this incredible journey, hand in hand, united by our passion for cricket and our belief in its extraordinary potential.”

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