Jay Shah, the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), is on course to become the next Chair of the International Cricket Council (ICC) after reportedly orchestrating the resignation of the current chair, Greg Barclay.
The Age reported that Barclay informed ICC directors, including Cricket Australia’s chair Mike Baird, of his decision to step down during a video conference on Tuesday night.
This announcement followed Shah’s expression of interest in the role, claiming he had secured sufficient support from ICC members to take over in November.
An ICC spokesperson confirmed, “ICC chair Greg Barclay has informed the board that he will not seek a third term and will vacate the position when his current tenure concludes at the end of November. Barclay was first appointed as the independent ICC chair in November 2020 and was re-elected in 2022.”
Current ICC directors must submit nominations for the next chair by August 27, 2024. Should multiple candidates emerge, an election will be held, with the successful candidate assuming office from December 1, 2024.
Barclay, who was eligible for another two-year term, decided to step aside after Jay Shah garnered backing from influential cricketing boards including those of Australia and England. If appointed, Shah is expected to serve as ICC chair for a minimum of three years under a revised constitution. His tenure as BCCI secretary is set to end next year.
Meanwhile, questions linger regarding the future of ICC management, led by CEO Geoff Allardice, and based in Dubai. Additionally, there are increasing concerns over India’s participation in the 2025 Champions Trophy scheduled to be held in Pakistan next February.
