The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary, Jay Shah, is poised to succeed Greg Barclay as the new chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), according to sources close to NDTV. Barclay, during a video conference with ICC directors, including Cricket Australia’s chair Mike Baird, indicated that he has no intention of pursuing a third term. This decision came after learning of Jay Shah’s plans to step into the role in November. Shah has secured the backing of the cricket boards from England and Australia, giving him the majority support needed to assume the position as ICC chief.
Previously, only two Indians have held this prestigious role—Jagmohan Dalmiya (1997-2000) and Sharad Pawar (2010-2012). Shah, who is the son of India’s Home Minister Amit Shah, will be the third when he officially takes over from Barclay in November.
An ICC spokesperson stated, “Greg Barclay confirmed to the board that he will not seek a third term and will step down when his current tenure concludes in November. Barclay was appointed as the independent ICC chair in November 2020 and re-elected in 2022.”
Nominations for the next chair must be submitted by August 27, 2024, with the new term starting on December 1, 2024, if there is more than one candidate. The election, governed by ICC rules, now requires a simple majority of nine votes (51%) out of 16 for the winner, compared to the previous two-thirds majority requirement.
Shah, who currently has one year remaining as BCCI secretary, will face a mandatory three-year cooling-off period starting in October 2025, as per BCCI’s constitution approved by the Supreme Court. This rule allows an office bearer to serve for six years before a cooling-off period. Shah could potentially have four years remaining in the BCCI if he transitions to the ICC role early.
At just 35, Shah is set to become the youngest chairman in ICC history.