As the tenure of Greg Barclay, the current Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), draws to a close on November 30, 2024, speculation is mounting over his successor. The spotlight has now turned to Jay Shah, the Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), who is reportedly the frontrunner to assume the role. Reports indicate that Shah has garnered substantial support from major cricketing nations, including Australia and England, to lead the ICC for the next three years under a revised constitution.

The path appears clear for Shah, with the deadline for filing nominations set for August 27, 2024. Should he decide to run, it will be a significant move, not just for Shah but for the ICC, given the potential for his influential leadership in the international cricketing body.

Greg Barclay, a New Zealand-based attorney, has served as the ICC Chairman since November 2020, having been re-elected in 2022. However, Barclay has confirmed that he will not seek a third term, opting instead to step down after his current tenure ends. This development has opened the door for a new leader to take charge.

The election process for the ICC Chairman involves 16 votes, with a simple majority of nine votes (51%) now required to secure the position, a change from the previous requirement of a two-thirds majority. If more than one candidate is nominated, an election will be held, with the term of the new chairman beginning on December 1, 2024.

Shah, currently 35 years old, could become the youngest chairman in ICC history. He is a highly influential figure within the ICC, holding the position of head of the Finance and Commercial Affairs (F&CA) sub-committee, one of the most powerful roles within the organization. His potential candidacy is strengthened by the goodwill he enjoys among the 16 voting members.

Shah’s move to the ICC would coincide with his final year as BCCI Secretary before he must undergo a mandatory three-year cooling-off period, as stipulated by the BCCI constitution approved by the Supreme Court. If elected, Shah would join the ranks of previous Indian ICC leaders, including Jagmohan Dalmiya, Sharad Pawar, N Srinivasan, and Shashank Manohar.