Report: Jay Shah to Become New ICC Chairman Following Pushing Out Greg Barclay

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah is reportedly poised to become the new chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) following the resignation of current chairman Greg Barclay. Reports suggest that Shah played a key role in Barclay's departure. Additionally, the ICC and TV broadcasters Star are currently embroiled in a contentious $3 billion dispute over media rights.

According to Australia’s The Age newspaper, New Zealander Barclay told ICC directors, including Cricket Australia’s chairman Mike Baird, of his intention to resign during a video conference, after being informed by Jay Shah that he wished to replace him in November and had the ‘numbers to do so’.

“ICC chair Greg Barclay confirmed to the board that he will not stand for a third term and will step down from the post when his current tenure finishes at the end of November. Barclay was appointed as the independent ICC chair in November 2020, before being re-elected in 2022,” an ICC spokesperson was quoted as saying by The Age newspaper.

“Current directors are now required to put forward nominations for the next chair by 27 August 2024 and if there is more than one candidate, an election will be held with the term of the new chair commencing on 1 December 2024,” the report added.

Barclay was eligible for another two-year term but Jay Shah, who is son of India’s Home Minister Amit Shah, has won support from Australia and England to run the ICC for at least three years under a revised constitution. Shah’s term as BCCI secretary was due to expire next year.

Jay Shah strong contender to become the next ICC Chairman.

– The new Chairman’s tenure will start from 1st December. pic.twitter.com/J3Pq50E7qB

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) August 20, 2024

Before Tuesday night’s video call, the ICC had faced criticism from member countries for the USA-based leg of the T20 World Cup 2024 going $US20 million over the agreed operational budget. There is also uncertainty about the likelihood of India travelling to Pakistan to contest the ICC ODI Champions Trophy 2025 in February next year.

Jay Shah’s rise in ICC has arrived at the same time Star is seeking relief from the enormous deal it signed with the ICC in late 2022 for the rights to broadcast global cricket events into India from 2024 to 2027.

An ICC chairman is eligible for three terms of two years each and Barclay, a New Zealand-based attorney, has so far completed four years. “ICC Chair Greg Barclay confirmed to the Board that he will not stand for a third term and will step down from the post when his current tenure finishes at the end of November. Barclay was appointed as the Independent ICC Chair in November 2020, before being re-elected in 2022,” the ICC stated in a media release.

As per ICC rules, the chairman’s election comprises of 16 votes and now a simple majority of nine votes is required (51 per cent) for the winner. Earlier, to become the chairman, the incumbent needed to have two-third majority.

Jay Shah is considered as one of the most influential faces in the ICC board room. He is currently the head of ICC’s all-powerful Finance and Commercial Affairs (F&CA) sub-committee.

If Shah decides to move to ICC with a year of his secretaryship still left, he will have four years left in the BCCI. At 35, he could be youngest chairman in the history of ICC. Jagmohan Dalmiya, Sharad Pawar, N Srinivasan and Shashank Manohar are the Indians who have headed the ICC in the past.