Jay Shah, the incumbent secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), is on the verge of becoming the next International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman. According to ICC rules, nominations for the position are due by August 27th, and an election, if necessary, will take place in November. With strong support from the cricket boards of Australia and England, Shah’s appointment is widely seen as a formality.
Greg Barclay, the current chairman, announced his decision not to seek a third term, paving the way for Shah’s ascension. While Barclay was eligible to serve for another two years, he informed the ICC Board of his intention to step down on Tuesday. Shah, however, will need to resign from his BCCI secretary position before taking on the ICC role.
Shah’s move to the ICC seems strategically timed. He began his second term as BCCI secretary in October 2022, and a three-year cooling-off period after his current term ends in September 2025 would prevent him from immediately assuming another prominent position within the BCCI. The ICC chair position, therefore, presents a feasible and desirable alternative.
If Shah assumes the chair, he will become the youngest person to hold the position at the age of 36. He will also join a prestigious list of Indian cricket administrators who have led the global governing body, including Jagmohan Dalmiya, Sharad Pawar, N. Srinivasan, and Shashank Manohar.
Shah’s experience as the BCCI-appointed ICC director and his chairmanship of the ICC’s Finance and Commercial Affairs sub-committee, considered one of the most influential bodies within the ICC, make him a strong candidate for the top job. His appointment is expected to further strengthen India’s influence within the global cricketing landscape.
