All Eyes on Jay Shah as ICC Chairman Barclay Declines Third Term

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After his term ended on November 30, current ICC head Greg Barclay decided not to seek a third term on Tuesday, which stoked concerns over BCCI secretary Jay Shah’s future at the organization that oversees cricket.

By August 27, when nominations for the chairman’s position close, Shah’s interest in entering the race will become apparent.

Barclay, an attorney from in New Zealand, has served as the chairman of the ICC for four of the three periods that he is eligible to serve.

“ICC Chairman Greg Barclay informed the Board that, at the expiration of his present term at the end of November, he will not seek reelection. Prior to being re-elected in 2022, Barclay was selected as the Independent ICC Chairman in November 2020, according to a media statement from the ICC. The chairman will be chosen by a simple majority of nine votes (51%) as per ICC regulations. The election will consist of sixteen ballots. In the past, the incumbent required a two-thirds majority to hold the position of chairman.

“Current directors are now required to put forward nominations for the next Chair by 27 August 2024 and if there is more than one candidate, an election will be held with the term of the new Chair commencing on 1 December 2024.”

Jay Shah is likely to hold the Post

In the ICC boardroom, Shah is regarded as one of the most powerful individuals. At now, he is the chairman of the ICC’s Finance and Commercial Affairs (F&CA) subcommittee, which holds immense authority.

The majority of the 16 voting members hold a favorable opinion of him. Shah will serve as BCCI secretary for a more year, after which he will be required to take a three-year hiatus starting in October 2025.

A Supreme Court-approved BCCI constitution states that an office bearer may hold office for six years before having to take a three-year cooling-off period. An individual may hold office for a total of eighteen years, nine in a state association and nine in the BCCI.

Shah will have four years remaining in the BCCI if he chooses to go to the ICC with one year remaining in his secretaryship. He could be the ICC’s youngest chairman ever at 35. Indian leaders of the ICC in the past include Jagmohan Dalmiya, Sharad Pawar, N Srinivasan, and Shashank Manohar.