Jay Shah's potential ICC chairmanship awaits November election

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is gearing up for its Annual Conference in Colombo later this month, where several key decisions and elections are set to take place. Notably, the election for the ICC chairman will not be on the agenda during this conference. The current chairman, Greg Barclay, is eligible for another term and may seek re-election. However, all eyes are on Jay Shah, who is widely expected to contest the chairman position in November.

Jay Shah, who is associated with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has not confirmed his interest in moving to Dubai to take over the ICC chairman role. If he decides to run, he is likely to be elected unopposed, given his strong backing. The ICC recently amended the chairman's tenure to two terms of three years each, potentially paving the way for Shah to lead the organization.

Speculation has swirled around Shah's intentions regarding the ICC headquarters, currently in Dubai. However, Shah has indicated no plans to relocate it to Mumbai. Instead, his focus is on reforming the ICC following issues during the recent Twenty20 World Cup.

During the Annual Conference, the election for Associate Member Directors will occur on July 19. Eleven candidates are competing for three positions, each serving a two-year term. Notable contenders include Mubashshir Usmani of UAE, who enjoys strong support from Associate members, and Sankar Renganathan of Sierra Leone, endorsed by Germany for his extensive cricket experience across continents.

Forty-five Associate members will participate in the election, representing various cricket zones globally. The voting process will utilize an electronic system, ensuring anonymity. In case of technical issues, a manual secret ballot will be conducted, with candidates potentially resolving ties through agreement or a coin toss as per ICC guidelines.

The outcomes of these elections and discussions at the conference are expected to shape the future direction of global cricket governance and development.