Indian Cricket Fraternity Congratulates Jay Shah As He Becomes Youngest ICC Chairman

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Mumbai, Aug 27: The Indian cricket fraternity showered accolades on BCCI Secretary Jay Shah after he was elected unopposed as the next Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday (August 27).

At just 35 years old, Shah has become the youngest individual to hold this prestigious position in global cricket administration. He will officially take over from the 62-year-old New Zealander, Greg Barclay, on December 1, following Barclay's decision not to run for a third consecutive term.

Jay Shah Elected Unopposed

Jay Shah, who has been serving as the BCCI Secretary since 2019, will step down from his position in India during the BCCI's Annual General Meeting, expected to be held towards the end of next month or in October. With his election, Shah becomes the fifth Indian to assume the role of ICC Chairman, following in the footsteps of Jagmohan Dalmiya, Sharad Pawar, N Srinivasan, and Shashank Manohar.

Expressing his gratitude, Shah emphasized his commitment to expanding the global reach of cricket, especially with the sport's impending inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. "I am humbled by the nomination as the Chair of the International Cricket Council," Shah said in an ICC release.

He acknowledged the critical juncture at which international cricket finds itself and highlighted the importance of balancing multiple formats, promoting advanced technologies, and introducing marquee events to new global markets.

"I am committed to working closely with the ICC team and our member nations to further globalise cricket. Our goal is to make cricket more inclusive and popular than ever before," he added.

The news of Shah's election was met with widespread praise from prominent figures in the cricket community. Former Indian cricketer and ex-head coach of the men's national team, Anil Kumble, took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his excitement: "Jay Shah's election as ICC Chair marks a new chapter in global cricket. Congratulations and best wishes for the journey ahead!"

Indian Cricketers Congratulate Jay Shah

Current India head coach and former cricketer Gautam Gambhir also shared his congratulations on X, writing, "Many congrats @JayShah bhai! I know world cricket will grow tremendously under your exceptional leadership!"

Star India all-rounder Hardik Pandya posted on X, "Congratulations Jay Shah bhai on being elected as the youngest chairman of ICC. Look forward to seeing you take cricket to even greater heights. Your vision and drive will help ICC, just like it did with BCCI."

IPL franchise, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) echoed the sentiment, posting on X, "Congratulations to Mr. @JayShah on being elected as the ICC Chairman! From elevating Indian cricket to new heights to now becoming the youngest Chairman of the global cricket body, we are confident our sport will thrive under his leadership."

BCCI President Roger Binny said in a statement, "I take this opportunity to congratulate Mr Jay Shah on his appointment as the independent chair of the International Cricket Council (ICC). He has been a strong pillar as the BCCI Honorary Secretary and the President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).

"He has been a cornerstone in ideating and implementing some of the pathbreaking initiatives in cricket. As he takes over as the ICC Chairman, I am sure his foresight and leadership will further enhance the reputation and well-being of our beloved game."

BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla congratulated Shah on his election as the new ICC chairman and hailed him as a visionary. Shukla said, "I would like to wish Mr. Jay Shah all the very best in his new role at the ICC. He has been a visionary and has taken great pride in making sure that the game of cricket reaches newer heights and reaches a wider audience. His forthright approach and astute leadership mean the game of cricket will continue to prosper across the globe."

Ashish Shelar, the BCCI Treasurer, said: "It has been a fantastic experience to witness how tirelessly and efficiently Mr Jay Shah operates and strives to make the game of cricket a better place for everyone concerned. As I congratulate him on his landmark role, I am sure he will leave no stone unturned to bring more recognition, reach and laurels to the game."

Mr Devajit Saikia, BCCI Joint Secretary, said: "From being a strong administrator at the grassroots level to leading by example in his role as the BCCI Secretary and ACC President, all of us have witnessed how Mr Shah remains true to his belief of making the game bigger and better. In his tenure with the BCCI, he has helped the game grow exponentially. As he gears up for his new role, I am sure he will put his best foot forward to serve the game all of us love so dearly."

Given Shah's influential role within the BCCI, the world's richest cricket board, which contributes more than 75 per cent of the ICC's revenue, his election was largely anticipated.

It is understood that one of the powerful SENA cricket boards (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia) proposed Shah's nomination, with another among these countries seconding it. Shah emerged as the sole contender by the last day of nominations, cementing his path to the ICC's top position.