The recently elected chairman of the Indian Cricket Council, Jay Shah, has stated that one of his priorities will be to “dismantle barriers that have hindered cricket’s progress” and to make sure that Test cricket remains the “bedrock” of the game. On December 1, the 35-year-old will resign from his current role as BCCI secretary to become the youngest ICC Chairman for a two-year term, replacing incumbent Greg Barclay. “While the T20 is a naturally exciting format, it is equally important that Test cricket remains a priority for everyone as it forms the bedrock of our game,” Shah said in a statement issued by the BCCI on Tuesday.
“We must see to it that cricketers are driven to longer format and our efforts will be channelised towards this goal,” he added. Shah mentioned that he would also like to work on establishing a different program for finding talent. He placed a strong emphasis on raising the bar for players everywhere.
“I want to reassure you that I will use every effort to raise the bar for our game everywhere. I’m determined to live up to your high standards and devote myself to the beautiful game of cricket as I take on this crucial responsibility,” he declared. Shah, the son of union home minister Amit Shah, will step down from his role as BCCI secretary during the board’s annual general meeting, which is anticipated to take place in October or towards the end of next month.
Shah became the fifth Indian after the late Jagmohan Dalmiya, Sh.