Jay Shah: Can he play ICC chief in true sense of the term?

The Jay Shah era began at the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Sunday, 1 December, albeit under somewhat challenging circumstances. At 36, the youngest ICC chairman has started off by making the right noises about focusing on Test cricket, globalisation of the sport and the women’s game, though he has a pressing problem at hand in the ICC Champions Trophy.

Yes, the festering issue of India and Pakistan will be a thorn in the flesh of Shah, but it could also be his biggest chance to play the global body chief in the true sense of the term. Until a day earlier, he was secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) — the world's richest cricket body, currently at odds with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) — his identity as the son of India’s powerful home minister Amit Shah defining his position almost by default.

Not anymore. Shah now has the onerous task of saving the Champions Trophy by meeting the PCB halfway on the issue of a ‘hybrid model’ as there are no chances of India reversing its decision of not crossing the border to play cricket in Pakistan. Informed sources say the partnership model suggested by Pakistan, which effectively means that the contentious India-Pakistan matches are played at a neutral venue for next three years (read Dubai), has met with the approval in principle of both parties.

It will be a good start to the innings for Shah if the plan works as it’s high time that the unwarranted drama over the venue of India-Pakistan matches is laid to rest, without the PCB feeling shortchanged. There are also unconfirmed reports of the PCB asking for a hike in its 5.75 per cent share of ICC revenues on the grounds that the matches between the two neighbours have been the biggest draw at ICC events for years now.

The onus will be on Shah and his core group’s bargaining skills to win over Pakistan, irrespective of the jingoistic voices on either side of the border such as TV pundits or social media experts. There may be a cue in the manner in which Jagmohan Dalmiya, the first Indian to take over the ICC top job in 1997, used to rally around influential officials of the sub-continent in tackling challenging situations.

Looking at the bigger picture, there are many challenges confronting the game, namely the future of Test cricket and a balance between international cricket and the lure of T20 franchise leagues. ‘’Test cricket remains the pinnacle of the game and I am dedicated to preserving its stature while enhancing its appeal to fans. Simultaneously, women’s cricket will be a cornerstone of our growth strategy as we take the sport to new horizons,’’ Shah said on his X handle after taking charge.

The introduction of World Test Championship (WTC), in its third cycle now, has given the five-day format a new context, but the ICC may need to take some tough decisions towards simultaneous management of its three formats — Tests, ODIs and T20Is. The controversy over the Champions Trophy has already raised questions in some quarters on the need to revive this tournament after eight years, especially at a time when the 50-over World Cup itself faces an existential crisis.

Now that cricket has also been included in the Los Angeles Olympics 2028, the ICC needs to optimise on that window to find new markets for the sport. The task will be cut out for Shah, as the global body’s experiment of taking a leg of the last T20 World Cup to the US resulted in losses for them.

The businessman began his journey as early as 2009 in his backyard: the Gujarat Cricket Association. During his tenure, he oversaw the development of the gigantic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad and began his stint as BCCI secretary in 2019, albeit with a high-profile president in former India skipper Sourav Ganguly.

There have been enough challenges over the last six years in the shape of saving the IPL and navigating the T20 World Cup in 2021 in pandemic times, not to speak of the 50-over World Cup in India last year. Shah also played important roles as president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and chair of the ICC’s finance and commercial affairs committee.

However, the well-oiled machinery of the BCCI and the clout Shah wielded meant things could virtually run on auto pilot. The bigger challenge, in full view of the cricketing world and Western media, begins now!