Image: BCCI looking for successor for Jay Shah / © Aajkaal
Shah was elected unopposed as ICC chairman in August, making history as the youngest person (35 years old) to hold this position. He will take over from Greg Barclay, who has served since 2020. This appointment makes Shah the fifth Indian to lead the ICC, following notable predecessors like Mr. Jagmohan Dalmiya, Mr. Sharad Pawar, Mr. N. Srinivasan, and Mr Shashank Manohar. Although his election occurred in August, Shah officially began his new responsibilities on December 1.
In this current situation, a bit of nervous discussion has started regarding the throne, names like Rohan Jaitley, current president of the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA), and Anil Patel, secretary of the Gujarat Cricket Association, have emerged as potential replacements. Jaitley appears to be a frontrunner for the role. However, a recent report indicates that the BCCI has yet to make a final decision, a conclusion will be reached after discussions with all relevant stakeholders.
Jay Shah’s career in cricket administration has been significant and upward-rising. He began in 2009 with the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA), where he eventually became joint secretary. During his tenure, Shah oversaw the construction of the historic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad which hosted the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup. He joined the BCCI as its secretary in 2019 and was reelected in 2022. In addition to his responsibilities with the BCCI, Shah has also served as president of the Asian Cricket Council since 2021 and became a member of the ICC’s Finance & Commercial Affairs Committee in 2022.