How Jay Shah became the most powerful man in world cricket at the age of 35

Pros: 

1. Strong Leadership:  

   - Jay Shah's leadership has brought financial stability and growth to Indian cricket.  

   - He played a pivotal role in securing lucrative broadcasting deals and expanding the IPL.  

2. Global Influence:  

   - His position has strengthened India's influence in global cricket, shaping ICC policies and tournaments.  

   - Advocated for the promotion of emerging cricketing nations.

3. Strategic Vision:

   - His innovative strategies have modernized cricket operations and infrastructure in India.  

   - Focused on grassroots development and talent promotion.  

Cons:

1. Allegations of Nepotism:

   - Critics argue his rise is linked to his father, Amit Shah, rather than merit.  

   - Questions about transparency in his appointments and decision-making.

2. Power Centralization:

   - Centralizing power in Indian cricket could lead to dominance, sidelining smaller cricketing nations.  

   - Concerns over imbalance in ICC’s decision-making process.

3. Conflict of Interest Issues:  

   - Accusations of conflicts of interest regarding IPL and BCCI operations.  

   - Criticism for prioritizing commercial aspects over the spirit of the game.

Indian Cricket Board secretary Jay Shah has become the new chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC). He is the youngest cricket administrator to reach the position at the age of just 35.

It is also interesting that this is the first time that someone under the age of 57 has become the president or chairman of the ICC.

When the first ICC chairman Colin Cowdrey became the chairman in 1989, he was 57 years old.

Since then, 11 people have become the president of the ICC. When N Srinivasan was elected as the ICC chief in 2014, the position was called the ICC ‘chairman’.

Jay Shah is the fifth Indian to reach this position. Jagmohan Dalmiya, Sharad Pawar, N Srinivasan and Shashank Manohar have been the presidents of the ICC.

Jay Shah's rise to the ICC presidency has been linked to his father, Indian Home Minister Amit Shah.

In addition, Jay Shah's assumption of the ICC chairmanship amid the ongoing controversy over the hosting of the Champions Trophy in Pakistan is also being given importance by experts.

India's dominance in world cricket

According to experts, the reason for Jay Shah's rise to the position of ICC President is the dominance of the Indian Cricket Board in world cricket.

Jay Shah was the secretary of the world's most powerful board, the Indian Cricket Board. The Indian Cricket Board not only has the largest audience market but also has the support of several big companies and sponsors.

Apart from this, the Indian cricket team is also winning consistently and amidst all this, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has emerged as a successful tournament. No other cricket board in the world has all this.

Cricket analyst Anand Vasu has written in an article for BBC Hindi that Jay Shah's career graph as an administrator in cricket has also been excellent.

He started his career as a district cricket administrator under the Gujarat Cricket Association in 2009.

In the year 2013, he became the joint secretary of the Gujarat Cricket Association and after that he did not look back.

When he joined the BCCI as secretary in 2019, he did not have much experience, but according to sources close to him, he now consults with his colleagues.

When he had to make difficult decisions regarding the ICC or BCCI, he contacted former administrators and tried to find solutions in this regard.

He even sought advice from former BCCI and ICC chairman N. Srinivasan, who was considered to be from the opposing camp.

When it comes to cricket, he relies on former Indian cricketer Parthiv Patel for advice.

How many challenges does Jay Shah face?

At present, the role of the Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India can be considered more influential than the role of the Chairman of the ICC.

However, as the Chairman of the ICC, Jay Shah will face no less challenges. The ICC wants to spread cricket rapidly to other countries of the world. For this, the ICC has adopted an aggressive strategy.

In this direction, the previous T20 World Cup matches were held in the United States. This experiment was very expensive and the broadcasters also had to suffer a lot in this regard, but the ICC was successful in introducing cricket to another market.

Apart from this, cricket is also being included in the Olympics in 2028. During Jay Shah's tenure, administrative decisions and preparations in this regard will be finalized.

Similarly, decisions will have to be taken regarding the tension between Pakistan and India regarding cricket relations and the Champions Trophy to be held in Pakistan in a few months.

Jay Shah will also have to deal with Star TV, the official broadcaster of the ICC tournament, over the broadcasting rights.

Star TV has already demanded a rebate of around $100 million, or around Rs 830 crore, from the ICC. Star TV claims that they are not earning much from these events.

Controversies and successes

In 2017, an investigative report by the Indian magazine The Wire claimed that Jay Shah's company had made a 1600% profit since Modi came to power.

However, after this news, Jay Shah filed a damages notice of INR 100 crore against the magazine, which is still pending.

Jay Shah's father Amit Shah is considered an important leader of the BJP and has been serving as the Home Minister since 2019.

Jay Shah's achievements include securing a historic media rights deal for the Indian Premier League (IPL), which has made it the second-largest sports league in the world. He has also ensured the establishment of the Women's Premier League (WPL) and ensured equal pay for men and women in India.

According to the ICC website, his achievements include building cricket infrastructure in India.

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#Sports #Cricket #Indian_Cricket_Team #Narendra_Modi #Bharatiya_Janata_Party