The BCCI secretary is poised to be chosen the new ICC chairman. Greg Barclay, the current incumbent, has previously stated his decision to leave the job when his term ends in November.
Jay Shah, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), is expected to succeed Greg Barclay as chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), sources tell NDTV. During a video conference, Barclay informed ICC directors, including Cricket Australia’s chairman Mike Baird, that he has no intention of seeking for the position for a third term. His decision came after he learned of Jay Shah’s plans to replace him in November. Shah has the support of the cricket boards of England and Australia, giving him the numbers to become the ICC’s chief.
The only four Indians to have led the ICC are Jagmohan Dalmiya (1997–200), Sharad Pawar (2010–2012), and N Srinivasan (2014–2015) and Shashank Manohar (2015–2020). When Shah, the son of India’s home minister Amit Shah, takes over for Barclay in November, he will become the third person to do so.
“ICC chair Greg Barclay stated to the board that he will not run for a third term and will step down when his present term expires at the end of November. Barclay was appointed as the ICC’s independent head in November 2020 and will be re-elected in 2022, according to an ICC representative.
“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 chairman will be chosen by a simple majority of nine votes (51%) as per ICC rules. The election will consist of sixteen ballots. In the past, the incumbent required a two-thirds majority to hold the position of chairman.
The majority of the 16 voting members hold a favorable opinion of him. Shah will serve as BCCI secretary for a more year, after which he will be required to take a three-year hiatus starting in October 2025.
An office bearer may hold office for six years before having to take a three-year cooling-off period, according to the BCCI constitution that was upheld by the Supreme Court. 18 years is the maximum tenure for an officeholder: 9 years in a state association and 9 years in the BCCI.
Shah has one more year in the BCCI if he chooses to transfer to the ICC once his secretaryship expires.
He will take the ICC chairmanship for the youngest time ever at the age of 35.
