Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar showered praise on outgoing BCCI secretary Jay Shah for his dedication to promoting gender equality in the sport. Shah, recently elected as the new ICC Chairman, will take on his role starting December 1st, becoming the youngest person to hold this position at the age of 35.
During his five-year tenure as BCCI secretary, which commenced in October 2019, Shah played a pivotal role in giving equal weight to both men’s and women’s cricket, as reported by PTI. As Shah prepares to step down from his BCCI responsibilities to embrace his new role at the ICC, Tendulkar, along with numerous current and former players, expressed their congratulations and well-wishes to the young administrator.
Tendulkar took to X (formerly Twitter) to commend Shah’s dedication, stating, “Being enthusiastic and having the drive to do something good for cricket are essential qualities for a cricket administrator. @JayShah displayed these traits wonderfully during his stint as @BCCI secretary.” He further highlighted Shah’s achievements in prioritizing both women’s and men’s cricket, stating, “His endeavours towards prioritising both women’s cricket and men’s cricket have made the BCCI a pioneer that other boards can follow. I wish him the very best of luck towards the next phase of his journey, as he becomes the youngest chairman of the @ICC.”
Shah will be the fifth Indian to lead the ICC, and Tendulkar expressed his hope that Shah would continue to uphold and advance the legacy of Indian leadership in the ICC. “India has sent several luminaries to lead the ICC as administrators: Mr. Jagmohan Dalmiya, Mr. Sharad Pawar, Mr. N. Srinivasan, and Mr. Shashank Manohar. I am sure he will build on their legacy and take the game of cricket forward.”
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who served as BCCI president during Shah’s first term, also extended his congratulations, writing, “Congratulations to Jay Shah @JayShah on his new role as ICC chair.. wish him a great journey ahead..”
India’s batting mainstay Virat Kohli also joined in the congratulatory messages, tweeting, “Many congratulations @JayShah on being elected as the ICC chairman. Wishing you great success ahead.” India’s Test and ODI skipper Rohit Sharma also expressed his well-wishes, writing, “Heartiest Congratulations @JayShah.” Jasprit Bumrah further extended his congratulations, stating, “Congratulations @Jay Shah bhai! Your passion for the game will ensure it’s taken to the next level. Wishing you lots of luck!”
