Former India captain Ravi Shastri has backed Jay Shah to excel as the Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), praising his ability to learn quickly and improve the financial status of the sport’s global governing body. Shah, the former secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), was unanimously elected as ICC Chair and assumed the role on December 1.
Shah, who began his administrative journey in cricket in 2009 with the Gujarat Cricket Association, has rapidly ascended the ranks. At just 36, Shah has become the youngest ICC Chair in history, with many marvelling at his meteoric rise.
Shastri expressed confidence in Shah’s ability to transform the financial health of the organisation, predicting remarkable progress within a few years.
“Every Indian should feel proud. He is a young man. But, what I liked about Jay even when I was the coach and when he had just become the BCCI secretary was his ability to grasp things around him. He did it so quickly. He understood what was needed for the BCCI. And what I liked about him was the way he took everyone along. He had his fingers on the job all the time. I think he will do wonders even in the ICC.
“I think a lot of people might be surprised as to how can he go so quickly to the ICC. I think they will get a pleasant shock when he shows them the coffers of the ICC in two years or three years’ time because he is no one’s fool. He has learnt very quickly, dealing with the BCCi and that experience will hold him in good stead,” Shastri said.
As BCCI secretary, Shah achieved notable milestones, including the record-breaking Rs 48,390 crore deal for the 2022 Indian Premier League broadcasting rights, making the IPL the second most lucrative sporting event globally in terms of value per match. The BCCI, in the said period, also introduced equal match fees for the men’s and women’s cricket teams, and increased the pay for domestic cricketers.
Back in 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic sent shockwaves around the world, Shah along with then BCCI President Sourav Ganguly, hosted the IPL in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He took Indian cricket forward at a time when several countries, including England, had to either postpone or cancel leagues.
Shastri also lauded Shah’s commitment to player welfare during his BCCI tenure, highlighting his ability to unite stakeholders.
“For me, what was also good to see was his concern for the well-being of the players. And I can’t say that it was with all the others who were there before him. There were secretaries and presidents in the past who were extremely efficient in what they did, but just extra concern for the players and their well-being, and things of that sort. I noticed quite a bit of that during the Covid time. Once he settled into the job, one year down the line, you could see the difference in the way he was confident in the way he went about his job.
“I don’t think he will be fazed, just like he took the whole board along with him, he will take all the ICC members along with him.
“Back in 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic sent shockwaves around the world, Shah along with then BCCI President Sourav Ganguly, hosted the IPL in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He took Indian cricket forward at a time when several countries, including England, had to either postpone or cancel leagues,” he added.
