Will Jay Shah replace Greg Barclay as ICC chairman?
Greg Barclay, the incumbent International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman, has officially announced that he will step down from his position in November. Barclay's tenure began as the chairman of the global cricket body began in November 2020 and was extended following an unopposed re-election in 2022. His leadership has been marked by significant contributions toward the development of international cricket. Notably, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah is Barclay's potential replacement.
Barclay was re-elected in 2022
Barclay, who first came was re-elected as the ICC chairman in November 2022. He was elected unopposed as his opposition Tavengwa Mukuhlani, the chairman of Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC), withdrew from the Election. Barclay was backed by more than a dozen of directors. He even had the support of the most powerful board, the BCCI. Barclay first held the position in 2020 when he replaced Shashank Manohar, who stepped down from the post.
Who is Greg Barclay?
Greg Barclay is an Auckland-based commercial lawyer, who was initially appointed as the ICC chairman in November 2020. He has previously served New Zealand Cricket (NZC) as the chairman. Moreover, he was also the director of the 2015 ICC ODI World Cup, which was jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand. He was determined to help cricket grow across the globe.
Search for Barclay's successor underway
As per reports, the process to find Barclay's successor is already underway. Current directors have a deadline of August 27 to submit their nominations for the next chairperson. If more than two candidates emerge, the process will see an election. The election process for the chairmanship involves 16 votes, with a simple majority of nine votes (51%) needed for victory.
Jay Shah a potential candidate for ICC Chair
Jay Shah, who became the BCCI secretary in 2019, is tipped as a potential successor to Barclay. Currently leading ICC's Finance and Commercial Affairs (F&CA) subcommittee, Shah is considered one of cricket administration's most influential figures. He enjoys substantial support among the 16 voting members. If elected at age 35, he would become the youngest-ever ICC Chairman.
