Jay Shah has been elected as the new International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman. He will succeed Greg Barclay and will take charge on December 1. The secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was elected unopposed as no nomination was filed against him as well.

However, Shah will be the youngest head of the ICC at the age of 36. He will hold a term of three years with an option to continue for three more years as well. Meanwhile, Shah will now have to leave his BCCI post, which he has held since 2019 as well. The ICC shared that Shah was the sole nominee for the Chair as well. As per the rules, the nominations are filed by the 16 existing directors, proposing his name whereas the candidate himself need not file the papers.

Jay Shah showed intent to advance the global reach and popularity of cricket, especially with its upcoming inclusion in the LA 2028 Olympics – a moment he views as an important opportunity for the sport’s growth as well.

“I am humbled by the nomination as the Chair of the International Cricket Council,” Jay Shah stated. “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 further 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.”

The ICC said: “Shah’s election marks a new chapter for the ICC as it seeks to expand the game’s reach and continue its evolution on the global stage.”