Jay Shah takes over as new ICC chairman, becomes fifth Indian to head global body

DUBAI — Former BCCI’s secretary Jay Shah on Sunday took charge as the chairman of the International Cricket Council, becoming the fifth Indian to head the global body.

The 36-year-old Shah, who has been the BCCI secretary for the last five years, was the unanimous choice of ICC’s Board of Directors and replaced New Zealand attorney Greg Barclay, who didn’t wish to continue for a third consecutive term.

Before Shah, businessman late Jagmohan Dalmiya, politician Sharad Pawar, lawyer Shashank Manohar and industrialist N Srinivasan had all headed the world cricket body.

Mr. Shah, the son of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, will have his task cut out as the ICC needs to find an acceptable solution to implement the ‘Hybrid Model’ for the Champions Trophy originally scheduled in Pakistan.

As of now, the Pakistan Cricket Board has decided to accept the ‘Hybrid Model’ under which India play their matches in Dubai. But the PCB also wants the same courtesy to be accorded to Pakistan in all four ICC tournaments till 2031, which will be co-hosted or singularly hosted by the Indian cricket board.

Now, as the head of the global body and with less than 100 days left for the tournament to begin, Shah will have to co-ordinate with both the PCB and his former colleagues at the BCCI for an “acceptable solution” in order to organise a hassle-free tournament. — (KIMS)