"We are at a critical juncture" - Jay Shah resigns as BCCI secretary, begins tenure as ICC chairman

Former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) honorary secretary Jay Shah began his tenure as the International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman on Sunday, December 1. Underlining the LA28 Olympic Games and the growth of women's cricket as his priorities, he said the sport was at a "critical juncture".

Shah, 36, was elected unopposed to replace Greg Barclay, who had held the position since November 2020. He is the fifth Indian and the youngest ever to hold the position. His term will be two years, and it can be renewed twice.

“I am honored to take on the role of ICC Chair and grateful for the support and trust of the ICC Directors and Member Boards,” Shah said in a statement. "This is an exciting time for the sport as we prepare for the LA28 Olympic Games and work to make cricket more inclusive and engaging for fans worldwide."

"We are at a critical juncture with the coexistence of multiple formats and the need to accelerate the growth of the women’s game. Cricket holds immense potential globally, and I look forward to working closely with the ICC team and Member countries to seize these opportunities and take the sport to new heights,” he added.

Shah has resigned from his BCCI job, which he held since 2019. In the meantime, he also served as the president of the Asian Cricket Council and as the chair of the ICC's Finance and Commercial Affairs Committee.

Shah, the son of Indian home minister Amit Shah, started his journey with the Gujarat Cricket Association in 2009.

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"I would also like to thank Greg Barclay" - Jay Shah

Under Barclay, the ICC hosted multiple men's and women's tournaments, took steps towards gender-based pay parity but also took criticism over the distribution of its resources among smaller member countries.

In his statement, Shah added:

“I would also like to thank Greg Barclay for his leadership in the role for the past four years and the milestones achieved during that period. I look forward to working closely with the ICC team and the Member countries to expand the game’s reach and evolution on the global stage.”

The Indian administrator's first big responsibility would be to oversee the smooth operation of the 2025 Champions Trophy, suffering from hosting drama between the BCCI and the Pakistan Cricket Board.