Jay Shah, the 35-year-old secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), is set to become the youngest chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) when he takes over on December 1, 2024. Shah’s election was met with unanimous support from 15 out of 16 ICC Board members.
Cricket West Indies CEO Johnny Grave attributed Shah’s election to his impressive leadership at the BCCI. Grave highlighted Shah’s successful hosting of the Women’s Premier League, the 50-over World Cup in India, and the signing of lucrative broadcast deals.
Former Australia head coach John Buchanan urged the ICC under Shah’s leadership to make long-term decisions for cricket’s future. Buchanan expressed concerns about the proliferation of T20 leagues and emphasized the importance of Test cricket as the foundation of the game.
Buchanan believes the ICC needs to carefully consider the number of leagues it approves to avoid overwhelming players and ensure the relevance of the ODI format as a transition between Tests and T20s. He also acknowledged the financial incentives for players to participate in T20 leagues but stressed the need for a balance to maintain the integrity of the sport.
Buchanan anticipates a transition phase for the Australian Test side after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy later this year, as many players are over 30 years old. He expects changes in the team’s composition to accommodate younger talent.
