BCCI Secretary Jay Shah on Tuesday (August 27) was elected unopposed as the next chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC). As a result, the 35-year-old became the youngest ever to take up the role.

Shah started his career in cricket administration in 2009 with the Gujarat Cricket Association. He was elected as the BCCI Secretary in September 2019.

Shah, who has also served as the Chair of the Asian Cricket Council since January 2021, will assume this prestigious role on December 1, 2024.

Shah was the sole nominee for the chairmanship after current Chair Greg Barclay opted out of a third term following the end of his tenure on November 30.

Jay Shah became the fifth India to hold this post. Jagmohan Dalmiya, Sharad Pawar, N Srinivasan and Shashank Manohar are the Indians who have spearheaded the cricket’s governing body in the past.

“I am humbled by the nomination as the Chair of the International Cricket Council,” Shah said in a statement issued by the ICC.

“I am committed to working closely with the ICC team and our member nations to further globalize cricket. We stand at a critical juncture where it is increasingly important to balance the coexistence of multiple formats, promote the adoption of advanced technologies, and introduce our marquee events to new global markets. Our goal is to make cricket more inclusive and popular than ever before.”

He added, “While we will build on the valuable lessons learned, we must also embrace fresh thinking and innovation to elevate the love for cricket worldwide. The inclusion of our sport in the Olympics at LA 2028 represents a significant inflection point for the growth of cricket, and I am confident that it will drive the sport forward in unprecedented ways.”

Shah’s election marks a new chapter for the ICC as it aims to expand the game’s reach and continue its evolution on the global stage.

(With ICC Inputs)