CWI CEO explains Jay Shah's unopposed election as ICC chairman
The CEO of Cricket West Indies, Johnny Grave, has shed light on the unchallenged election of BCCI Secretary Jay Shah as the next chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC). At 35, Shah is set to become the youngest-ever ICC chairperson. His tenure will commence in December 2024. Grave highlighted Shah's impressive track record with BCCI since joining in 2019 as a key factor behind his uncontested selection.
Shah's leadership at BCCI
Grave noted that ICC members were not interested in "internal politics" when Shah applied for the post. He emphasized Shah's significant contributions to Indian cricket, including launching the Women's Premier League and securing a substantial media rights deal for IPL. Additionally, Shah successfully managed the hosting of the ICC ODI World Cup in 2023. These achievements played a crucial role in his unopposed election as ICC chairman.
Grave's expectations from Shah at ICC
Grave expressed his expectations that Shah will help ICC secure profitable media rights deals, similar to his accomplishments at BCCI. "We are talking about the Indian sub-continent rights holder, who contributes the major chunk of the revenue. We have seen Jay pull off lucrative deals for IPL and bilateral cricket. It is the need of the hour at the ICC as well," Grave stated.
Shah's tenure and future plans as ICC chairman
Shah, who also serves as president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), will assume office at the ICC headquarters in Dubai on December 1. An ICC chairman is eligible for three terms of two years each. Shah has outlined his priorities for his tenure, focusing on globalizing cricket and working toward including it in LA Olympics 2028. He emphasized the need to balance multiple formats, promote advanced technologies, and introduce marquee events to new global markets.
BCCI's search for Shah's successor
As Shah prepares to take on his new role at ICC, BCCI is in the process of identifying a suitable candidate to fill his position. The board is expected to finalize a candidate by November after thorough discussions. Current treasurer Ashish Shelar and joint secretary Devajit Saikia are among the potential successors being considered for this key role within Indian cricket administration.
