Jay Shah set to take over ICC after forcing current chair Greg Barclay to resign

Jay Shah of India is poised to take over as the Chair of the International Cricket Council (ICC) after forcing the resignation of the current chair, Greg Barclay, reported The Age.

Barclay informed ICC directors, including Cricket Australia’s chair Mike Baird, during a video conference on Tuesday night that he intends to step down. This decision came after Shah, who serves as the BCCI secretary, expressed his desire to assume the role in November and claimed that he had the necessary support from other members to do so.

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. If multiple candidates are nominated, an election will be held, with the new chair's term starting on December 1, 2024.

Although Barclay was eligible for another two-year term, Shah has garnered backing from countries including Australia and England, positioning him to lead the ICC for at least three years under a revised constitution. Shah’s tenure as BCCI secretary is set to expire next year.

The future of ICC management, led by Australian CEO Geoff Allardice and based in Dubai, remains uncertain. Additionally, there is growing doubt about whether India will participate in the 2025 Champions Trophy scheduled in Pakistan in February next year.