Jay Shah’s reformist vision ushers in a Golden Era for Cricket

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.