21 august 2024 :BCCI Secretary Jay Shah is poised to assume the role of chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), as reported by ‘The Age’ on Wednesday. Speculation regarding Shah’s potential promotion intensified following the announcement that current ICC chairman Greg Barclay would not seek a third term, which he confirmed on Tuesday, coinciding with the conclusion of his tenure on November 30.
According to ‘The Age’, Barclay’s decision to resign was influenced by a significant dispute valued at $US3 billion ($4.46 billion) between the ICC and its primary broadcasting rights holder, Star.
The report further indicated that two sources familiar with the discussions, who requested anonymity due to the confidential nature of the negotiations, corroborated this development late Tuesday night.
Shah has reportedly garnered support from Cricket Australia, the England and Wales Cricket Board, and other full-time members of the ICC.
As of now, there has been no official statement from either Shah or the ICC regarding this matter. The deadline for submitting official nominations for the position is August 27.
The ICC chairman is eligible to serve three terms of two years each, and Barclay, a New Zealand-based attorney, has completed a total of four years in office.
In a media release, the ICC confirmed that “ICC Chair Greg Barclay informed the Board of his decision not to stand for a third term and will vacate the position at the conclusion of his current tenure in November. Barclay was initially appointed as the Independent ICC Chair in November 2020 and was re-elected in 2022.”
According to ICC regulations, the election for the chairman involves 16 votes, with a simple majority of nine votes (51%) required for victory. Previously, a two-thirds majority was necessary to secure the chairmanship.
“Current directors must submit nominations for the next Chair by August 27, 2024, and should there be multiple candidates, an election will take place, with the new Chair’s term commencing on December 1, 2024.”
Shah is regarded as one of the most influential figures within the ICC boardroom, currently leading the ICC’s Finance and Commercial Affairs (F&CA) sub-committee.
He has garnered significant goodwill among the majority of the 16 voting members. Presently, Shah has one year remaining in his tenure as the BCCI secretary before entering a mandatory cooling-off period of three years, which will commence in October 2025.
According to the BCCI constitution ratified by the Supreme Court, an office bearer is permitted to serve for a maximum of six years before undergoing a three-year cooling-off period. In total, an individual may hold office for a cumulative duration of 18 years, divided equally between a state association and the BCCI.
Jay Shah may become the youngest chairman of the ICC.
Should Shah choose to transition to the ICC while still having a year left in his role as secretary, he would retain four years of eligibility within the BCCI.
At the age of 35, he could potentially be the youngest chairman in the ICC’s history. Previous Indian leaders of the ICC include Jagmohan Dalmiya, Sharad Pawar, N Srinivasan, and Shashank Manohar.