Mumbai: Under the
visionary leadership of Mr. Jay Shah, cricket has witnessed an era of sweeping
transformation, both in India and across the world. As the BCCI Secretary first
and now the ICC Chairman, Mr. Shah has redefined the game’s governance through
reformist policies that emphasize inclusivity, financial parity, and global
expansion.
At the ICC, Jay Shah has been a
transformative leader, serving first as the Chair of the Finance & Commercial
Affairs Committee and now as the Chairman. Under his stewardship, the ICC
introduced equal prize money for men’s and women’s tournaments in 2023 - a
landmark step toward gender equality in cricket. He strengthened the ICC’s
financial and commercial framework post-COVID, ensuring sustainable global
revenues, and championed governance reforms that expanded cricket’s reach to
emerging nations. Mr. Shah also played a pivotal role in cricket’s historic
return to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, personally leading the ICC’s
successful pitch to the International Olympic Committee.
Prior to taking over as Chairman
of the global cricketing body, Mr. Shah’s role as the BCCI Secretary had
ushered in a new era of professionalism, equity, and growth in Indian cricket.
He implemented sweeping reforms that strengthened governance, streamlined
operations, and made the Board more transparent and data-driven. Under his
leadership, Indian cricket saw the expansion of the IPL into a global sporting
powerhouse with record media rights, and the subsequent launch of the Women’s
Premier League—now the world’s biggest women’s sporting league. He introduced
the landmark pay parity policy, ensuring equal match fees for men and women
cricketers, and significantly increased prize money and match fees across
domestic tournaments. Mr. Shah also spearheaded the Test Cricket Incentive
Scheme to revive red-ball cricket and oversaw the expansion and modernization
of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru into a world-class high-performance
and rehabilitation hub. His vision culminated in India hosting a
record-breaking ICC World Cup in 2023, cementing his legacy as one of Indian
cricket’s most influential administrators.
Everything that he set in motion
during his tenure as the BCCI Secretary has yielded rich dividends for Indian
cricket, including five ICC trophies to India – men and women, in just three
years:
• ICC Under-19 Women’s World Cup
(2023 & 2025)
• ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 –
ending a 17-year wait
• ICC Champions Trophy 2025 –
India’s first in 12 years
• ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup
2025 – a historic maiden triumph!
This latest victory, India’s
first-ever Women’s World Cup title, stands as a testament to Mr. Shah’s
unwavering commitment to empowering the sport, for all.
Commenting on the first-ever
World Cup win by the Indian Women in Blue, Mr. Jay Shah, ICC Chairman said,
“India finally lifts the World Cup! Last night was a landmark in the history of
women’s cricket as the Indian captain lifted the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup
for the first time. Increased investment, pay parity with men’s cricketers, and
the big-match temperament inculcated by the competitiveness of the WPL,
combined with the grit, resolve, and skill of the Indian team, have fashioned
this remarkable victory.”
Through strategic vision and bold reforms, Mr. Jay Shah continues to deliver not just hope, but transformation – one that unifies all, bringing equal opportunity to dream and make it happen