Jay Shah starts term as ICC chairman

Indian cricket chief Jay Shah began his tenure as chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Sunday, expressing his ambition to take the sport to "new heights."

The son of India's influential home minister, Amit Shah, he was elected unopposed by the global cricket body in August, succeeding Greg Barclay, who opted not to seek a third term.

At 36, Shah becomes the youngest person to ever hold the position.

"Cricket holds immense potential globally, and I look forward to working closely with the ICC team and Member countries to seize these opportunities and elevate the sport to new heights," Shah said in a statement.

He described the current period as an "exciting" time for cricket, highlighting preparations for the 2028 Olympics and efforts to "make cricket more inclusive and engaging for fans worldwide."

"We are at a pivotal moment, with multiple formats coexisting and a pressing need to accelerate the growth of the women's game," he added.

Shah's meteoric rise—from leading the world's wealthiest cricket board to chairing the ICC—underscores India's dominance in the global administration of the sport.

In a country where cricket and politics are deeply intertwined, Shah is widely recognised as the son of Hindu-nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi's trusted ally, Amit Shah.

The ICC, cricket's global governing body, boasts more than 100 members and is responsible for organising major international events, including the World Cup.

Shah assumes his new role at a crucial juncture, with uncertainty surrounding next year's Champions Trophy. India has refused to travel to the host nation, Pakistan, and negotiations to resolve the impasse are ongoing, ICC sources told AFP earlier this week.