Jay Shah has officially taken over as the Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), succeeding Greg Barclay of New Zealand, who had held the position since November 2020.
On Sunday, Jay Shah formally took charge as the ICC Chairman.
He has become the fifth Indian to hold this position, following Jagmohan Dalmiya, Sharad Pawar, N. Srinivasan, and Shashank Manohar.
The ICC confirmed his appointment in a statement. Earlier in August, Jay Shah was elected unopposed as the independent Chairman of the ICC. He was the only candidate nominated by the ICC Board, so no formal election was necessary.
In his first statement after taking office, he outlined his priorities for the future of cricket. One of his key focuses is capitalizing on the opportunity to include cricket in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, as well as ensuring the rapid growth of women's cricket.
In the statement, Jay Shah said, “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.”
“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.”
Jay Shah further added, "Achieving equal popularity for various formats and the rapid growth of women’s cricket are major challenges at this moment. The global potential of cricket is immense, and I look forward to working closely with the ICC team and member countries to elevate the game to new heights."
With previous experience in cricket administration, Jay Shah began his journey in 2009 with the Gujarat Cricket Association. Under his leadership, the world's largest cricket stadium was built in Ahmedabad. In 2019, he joined the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and took over as the youngest honorary secretary. He has also played a crucial role as the President of the Asian Cricket Council.
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