ICC chairman Jay Shah bound to play on the front foot

Jay Shah takes over as Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) at a very interesting time. Usually, the ICC does not work on a Sunday, but the new boss was quick in sending out a post to all that he is in the saddle from December 1 and means business. For any Indian to be heading an international sports federation is a big thing. And for all those who used to say cricket was played by just a handful of nations, the narrative has changed. Notably, the T20 format has exploded and even a country like Nepal now has a league for someone like Shikhar Dhawan to ply his trade.

The junior Shah, son of Union Home Minister Amit Shah has learnt the tricks of the trade very fast. For anyone from Gujarat, business acumen comes naturally. As they grow up and want to do something big in life, familiarity with stock market, indices, and what defines good business is ingrained. So, at 36, Jay Shah has been chosen by the world to head cricket. As secretary of the BCCI, he did a good job ad earned respect from all quarters.

From the BCCI to the Asian Cricket Council and then the ICC, Jay Shah has taken rapid strides. Cricket returning to the Olympic gold is a big thing and there are medals at stake for both the men and women in 2028 Los Angeles. Even as gender equality is harped upon by the IOC (International Olympic Committee), Jay Shah has done plenty of good for Indian cricket at a macro level. There has been pay parity, the women have their own league now – WPL – and the auction will take place in mid- December. There are many more things which Jay Shah had done to earn respect from cricketers as well as other big nations like England and Australia.

One saw at the Paris 2024 Olympics how the new ICC boss was interacting with the IOC leaders. Cricket is an important sport and even in the United States of America, where baseball is more popular, cricket is catching up. That the ICC T20 World Cup this June made losses in the USA can be absorbed but as far as promotion of cricket is concerned, the ICC is serious about it. Los Angeles in 2028 including cricket cannot be a one-off thing. The way the market for T20 cricket has grown, for the Olympics to approve it is a sign of changing times. If cricket succeeds in the LA Olympics, then more nations will take it up as a serious sport and future editions of the Olympics will also host it. This is where the role of Jay Shah will be important.

As far as the explosion of T20 leagues is concerned and ensuring a balance between the three formats of cricket, plus the new T10 leagues as well, the ICC will keep a close watch. There are leagues for veterans and even over-50 as well. Surely, the ICC will want to ensure the brand value of its key properties stays intact. It is well known India plays a big role. If one sees billboards and in-stadia advertising in mega ICC events, the Indian brands figure prominently. So, the money for global cricket comes from the Indian market. If one looks at what Jay Shah did with TV rights and digital rights as well, for the BCCI, it was huge money.

As regards the Champions Trophy in 2025, the hybrid model is a certainty. Whether Pakistan wants to still do tough posturing will make no difference to Jay Shah or the ICC. In a worst-case scenario, even if the entire tournament has to be moved to the United Arab Emirates, it will happen in a jiffy. In 2026, India will host the ICC T20 World Cup. Add to it the World Cups for women’s cricket, the ICC is doing a good job. The cricketing world sees Jay Shah as someone who will further lift the image of the sport. What Pakistan has to say aggressively does not matter. The collective goodwill from other nations is what Jay Shah carries into his new role. He will slip into top gear at the ICC just as he did in the BCCI and ACC.