Jay Shah becomes youngest ICC Chairman: A glimpse at former Indian ICC presidents
First Published Aug 28, 2024, 11:55 AM IST
Jay Shah has been elected as the youngest-ever Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC). At the age of 35, he will succeed Greg Barclay as the head of cricket's highest governing body. Shah's election marks another instance of an Indian taking the helm of the ICC. This article revisits the tenures of previous Indian ICC Chairmen.
Youngest ICC Chairman Ever
Jay Shah has become the youngest-ever Chairman of the ICC. At 35, he will lead the world's largest cricket organization. The 16-member ICC board elected him as the new Chairman. August 27th marked the deadline for nominations, with outgoing Chairman Greg Barclay's term ending on November 30th. Barclay had opted out of running for a third term. Shah's tenure will last for two years.
Previous Indian ICC Chairmen
**Sharad Pawar (2010-2012):** Indian politician and cricket administrator Sharad Pawar also served as the ICC Chairman. Pawar held the position from 2010 to 2012. Prior to his ICC tenure, he was the BCCI President. Pawar played a significant role in popularizing cricket globally. He was instrumental in securing the hosting rights for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 in India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.
Enriched Cricket Boards Worldwide
**Jagmohan Dalmiya (1997-2000):** Jagmohan Dalmiya was an influential Indian cricket administrator. Dalmiya served as the President of the International Cricket Council (ICC) from 1997 to 2000. He revolutionized the board's revenue by auctioning cricket match slots to television channels. His model for generating revenue from cricket has enriched cricket boards worldwide. Before his role at the ICC, he served as the President of the BCCI, credited with making it the wealthiest cricket board globally.
More Power to "Big Three" Cricket Boards
**N. Srinivasan (2014-2015):** N. Srinivasan was the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) before assuming the role of ICC Chairman in 2014. His tenure saw significant administrative changes within the ICC, including granting more power to the "Big Three" cricket boards - India, Australia, and England. However, his time was marred by controversies related to the Indian Premier League (IPL) betting scandal.
Equal Revenue Distribution Model
**Shashank Manohar (2015-2020):** Shashank Manohar served as the ICC Chairman from 2015 to 2020, becoming the first independent Chairman of the ICC. Before his ICC role, Manohar completed two terms as the BCCI President. As ICC Chairman, he reformed the administrative structure to promote global cricket development and reduce the influence of the "Big Three" boards. His tenure saw efforts to democratize decision-making and enhance revenue distribution among all cricket-playing nations.