Jay Shah begins tenure as ICC chairman; LA Olympics 2028 to be in focus

Jay Shah took office on December 1 and will become the third Indian to hold the ICC Chairmanship position

The now-former BCCI Secretary, Jay Shah, assume the position of ICC (International Cricket Council) Chairman on Sunday, December 1, 2024. Shah won the election unopposed on August 28, 2024, after the now-former ICC Chairman Greg Barclay decided not to put his name on the candidates list for another tenure. Shah will become the third Indian after N. Srinivasan and Shashank Manohar to hold this position and will be the fifth Indian to sit at the top of cricket’s apex council. Jagmohan Dalmiya and Sharad Pawar held the ICC President portfolio before it was defunct in 2016.

 

Full List of Indians at the Helm of the ICC 

 

Name	Time period	Position
Jagmohan Dalmiya	1997 - 2000	ICC President
Sharad Pawar	2010 - 2012	ICC President
N. Srinivasan	July 26, 2014 - November 9, 2015	ICC Chairman
Shashank Manohar	November 22, 2015 - June 30, 2020	ICC Chairman
Jay Shah	Starting December 1, 2024	ICC Chairman

 

Olympics as a gateway for global growth

 

Shah in his first address as ICC Chairman highlighted the historic inclusion of cricket in the 2028 LA Olympics as a significant opportunity for the sport’s worldwide expansion. He expressed confidence that the Olympics would offer cricket a global platform to attract new fans, making it more inclusive and accessible across regions.  

 

Acknowledging the Legacy of Greg Barclay

 

Shah also took a moment to acknowledge the contributions of Greg Barclay, thanking him for his leadership over the past four years. Shah expressed his appreciation for the achievements made under Barclay’s guidance, particularly during the challenges presented by the global pandemic and the increasing demand for international cricket.

 

Women’s cricket in focus

 

One of Shah's central goals, as outlined in his first address, is to accelerate the growth of the women’s game. Recognising the potential for women’s cricket to flourish, he emphasised the need for greater investment and promotion to provide more opportunities for female athletes.

 

Jay Shah’s journey

 

Jay Shah’s leadership experience is extensive, beginning in 2009 with the Gujarat Cricket Association, where he played a key role in developing the world’s largest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad. Later, as the Honorary Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Shah became the youngest individual to hold that position. His leadership extended to the Asian Cricket Council, where he served as president and chaired the ICC’s Finance and Commercial Affairs Committee.