Jay Shah starts tenure as ICC Chair

Jay Shah has officially assumed the role of Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) starting today. The ICC confirmed this in a press release on Sunday. With this appointment, the 35-year-old Jay Shah becomes the youngest-ever chairman in the history of the ICC.

Upon taking office, Jay Shah expressed his pride and gratitude, saying, "I am honored to take on the role of ICC Chairman and I am thankful to the ICC officials for placing their trust in me. This is an exciting time for cricket as we are preparing for the 2028 Olympics, which will bring even more global support to the sport."

On the growth of women's cricket, Shah emphasized the need for further acceleration, stating, "We need to ramp up our efforts in advancing women's cricket. Cricket has the potential to make a significant impact on the global stage. I look forward to working closely with the ICC team and member countries to achieve this."

Jay Shah also took a moment to thank the outgoing chairman, Greg Barclay, saying, "I would like to thank Greg Barclay for his leadership over the past four years and for the milestones achieved during his tenure. I am eager to work closely with member nations to continue the progress."

Before becoming the ICC Chairman, Shah held significant roles in the cricketing world, including President of the Asian Cricket Council and Chairman of the ICC's Finance and Commercial Affairs Committee. Now, he steps into the top position of the ICC.

Shah has made notable contributions to Indian cricket, such as overseeing the record-breaking media rights deal for the IPL, establishing the Women's Premier League, creating a new state-of-the-art Centre of Excellence, and launching the Test Cricket Incentive Scheme, among other achievements.

It is worth noting that in August, Jay Shah was elected unopposed as the ICC's Independent Chairman. He was the sole nominee put forward by the ICC Board, meaning there was no need for an official election process.