No concerns about Jay Shah becoming ICC chairman: PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has asserted that there are no concerns over BCCI secretary Jay Shah being elected as the next chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC). On August 27, Shah was elected unopposed as the Independent Chair of the ICC.
At 35, the BCCI secretary is the youngest-ever ICC chariman. He will take charge from December 1, 2024, replacing current chairman Greg Barclay, who did not seek a third term.
Shah's appointment as ICC chairman is significant as India has refused to play cricket in Pakistan for several years. The latter is the host for the 2025 Champions Trophy. However, PCB chairman Naqvi has claimed that there are no concerns over Shah being named the new ICC chief. He told Geo News (as quoted by ANI):
"We are in touch with Jay Shah; there are no concerns about his becoming ICC Chairman. The ACC meeting is on September 8 and 9."
Shah is also the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), which organizes the Asia Cup. Pakistan were the official hosts of the 2023 Asia Cup, but Team India played all their matches in Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, PCB chairman Naqvi also confirmed that he won't be able to attend the ACC meeting. He commented:
"I will not be able to attend the meeting, and Salman Nasir will attend. The meeting will finalize matters related to the new president."
Before Shah, Jagmohan Dalmiya, Sharad Pawar, N Srinivasan, and Shashank Manohar were the other Indians who led the ICC.
"Our goal is to make cricket more inclusive and popular than ever before" - Jay Shah after being named ICC chairman
Sharing his thoughts after being elected unopposed as the new chairman of the ICC, Shah stated that he is committed to working closely with the ICC team and member nations to further globalize cricket. Releasing an official statement, the 35-year-old said:
"We stand at a critical juncture where it is increasingly important to balance the coexistence of multiple formats, promote the adoption of advanced technologies, and introduce our marquee events to new global markets. Our goal is to make cricket more inclusive and popular than ever before."
The BCCI secretary also termed the inclusion of cricket in the 2028 LA Olympics as an inflection point for the sport's growth. He said:
"The inclusion of our sport in the Olympics at LA 2028 represents a significant inflection point for the growth of cricket, and I am confident that it will drive the sport forward in unprecedented ways."
Before becoming BCCI secretary, Shah also served as the joint secretary of the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA).