BCCI Honorary Secretary Jay Shah was unanimously elected as the new independent chair of the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday.

Shah, son of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home minister Amit Shah, will assume the prestigious ICC chairmanship on December 1, 2024, the ICC said.

The development comes after the current ICC Chair, Greg Barclay, decided not to seek a third term and will be stepping down at the end of his tenure in November this year. Shah was the sole nominee for the role and his election marks an important transition in the leadership of the global cricket governing body.

In his acceptance speech, Shah emphasised his commitment to expanding the reach and popularity of the sport, especially with cricket’s inclusion in the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“I am humbled by this nomination and I am dedicated to working closely with the ICC team and our member nations to further globalize cricket,” he said.

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Shah outlined several key priorities, including balancing the coexistence of multiple cricket formats, promoting the adoption of advanced technologies, and introducing the sport’s marquee events to new international markets. “Our goal is to make cricket more inclusive and popular than ever before,” he added.

The new ICC Chair is confident that cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 Olympics will serve as a significant milestone for the growth of the sport globally. “This represents a critical inflection point, and I am sure it will drive cricket forward in unprecedented ways,” Shah said.