How PCB was a Mere Spectator as Jay Shah Became Youngest ICC Chairman

Jay Shah was on Tuesday elected the new chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the BCCI secretary will take charge from December 1. The 35-year-old, who became the youngest ICC chair, was elected unopposed as there was no other nomination for election to happen.

The global body currently has 16 members because there isn’t a Women Director yet. During the nomination phase, Shah received backing from 15 out of the 16 members as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) played a mute spectator during the entire process.

Insiders say there was no word from the PCB even as strong cricket boards like the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket Australia (CA) put their weight behind Shah.

“There wasn’t any word from PCB. Not that it was required because Shah had overwhelming support from the members. But the Pakistan board preferred to play the role of a spectator during the entire process,” says a source close to developments.

Shah, who will now have to relinquish his BCCI secretary position, will begin his three-year term as ICC Chair later this year. One of the major tasks during his tenure is going to be preparations for cricket’s historic debut at the Olympics in 2028.

“With cricket poised to make its historic debut at the Olympics in 2028, we stand at the precipice of a transformative era. This juncture is not merely a milestone, it’s a clarion call for all of us involved in this magnificent sport. It is my privilege to lead the ICC during such an exciting period in our shared journey,” Shah said in a statement.

The winds of change have already gripped the corridors of the global cricket body as two senior employees – Claire Furlong and Chris Tetley – are on their way out, and there is a thorough investigation underway into the delivery of the 2024 T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies.

The ICC have already floated an advertisement for Head of Events and more changes are likely when Shah takes charge in December. There are strong indications of another cultural review of the ICC.

The last time it happened was back in 2021 and it resulted in the sacking of then CEO Manu Sawhney. The PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) UK report was only shared with the chairman and then ICC Board members, and went missing after that.

Shah would look to restore order in the ICC and repeat what he successfully did at the BCCI during his two terms as the secretary of the Indian cricket board.

During his tenure, the BCCI’s financial health improved massively, multiple initiatives were taken to improve the state of domestic cricket, the Women’s Premier League was launched, the historic decision on pay parity was taken, infrastructure was improved at all centres, a new National Cricket Academy (NCA) was built and India successfully hosted the most successful World Cup ever. Even the wait for the ICC trophy ended when India won the 2024 T20 World Cup earlier this year.

Shah still has little over three months in the BCCI secretary’s office before what promises to be an exciting journey begins in Dubai.