His election coincides with a tense period in cricket relations between India and Pakistan, particularly regarding the hosting of the Champions Trophy 2025. Pakistan has firmly opposed a proposed hybrid hosting model, while the BCCI has refused to send the Indian team to Pakistan for the tournament.
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Shah succeeds Greg Barclay, who announced his decision to step down after completing his term in November and chose not to seek a third tenure.
In his acceptance statement, Shah expressed gratitude for the opportunity and outlined his vision for expanding cricket’s global reach. He emphasized priorities such as leveraging cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, ensuring a balanced coexistence of various formats, adopting advanced technologies, and introducing marquee events to untapped global markets.
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“I am humbled by the nomination as the Chair of the International Cricket Council,” Shah stated. “We stand at a pivotal moment where collaboration with member nations is crucial to globalize cricket and make it more inclusive and popular than ever.”
Shah also highlighted the upcoming Olympic inclusion as a transformative opportunity for cricket’s global growth, as well as the need to accelerate the development of the women’s game.
“This is an exciting time for the sport as we prepare for the LA28 Olympic Games and strive to make cricket more inclusive and engaging for fans worldwide,” Shah added. “I look forward to working with the ICC team and member countries to seize these opportunities and elevate the sport to new heights.”