Jay Shah becomes ICC's youngest chairman: A look back at India's previous Presidents

First Published Aug 28, 2024, 10:23 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 appointment continues a legacy of prominent Indian figures who have held the ICC Chairmanship. This article revisits the contributions of his predecessors, including Sharad Pawar, Jagmohan Dalmiya, N. Srinivasan, and Shashank Manohar.

Youngest ICC Chairman

Jay Shah has become the youngest-ever Chairman of the ICC. At 35, he will lead the global cricketing body, succeeding Greg Barclay. The ICC's 16-member board elected Shah unopposed. Barclay, whose term ends on November 30, declined to seek re-election. Shah's tenure will last for two years.

Indian Leaders in ICC

Sharad Pawar (2010-2012): Indian politician and cricket administrator Sharad Pawar served as the ICC Chairman from 2010 to 2012. Prior to his ICC role, he was the BCCI President. Pawar played a significant role in popularizing cricket globally and was instrumental in securing the hosting rights for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 in India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.

Revolutionizing Cricket Revenue

Jagmohan Dalmiya (1997-2000): Jagmohan Dalmiya, an influential Indian cricket administrator, served as the ICC Chairman from 1997 to 2000. He is credited with revolutionizing cricket's financial model by auctioning television rights for cricket matches, significantly increasing board revenues. His model is now followed by boards worldwide. Before his ICC role, he served as the BCCI President and is credited with making the BCCI the richest cricket board globally.

The "Big Three" Era

N. Srinivasan (2014-2015): N. Srinivasan was the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) before assuming the ICC Chairmanship 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 term was also 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. Prior to this, he completed two terms as the BCCI President. His tenure at the ICC focused on promoting global cricket development and reforming the administrative structure to reduce the influence of the "Big Three" boards. His efforts aimed to democratize decision-making and enhance revenue sharing among all cricket-playing nations.