Jay Shah, the newly elected chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), has arrived in Brisbane for critical meetings and cricketing engagements. Shah, the former secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), landed in the Australian city on a Singapore Airlines flight with Devajit Saikia, the BCCI joint secretary who assumed the powers of the secretary after Shah left the post last week.
The team is staying at Hotel Sofitel, the same hotel as the Indian cricket team. Shah’s visit assumes importance as he is set to attend meetings regarding cricket’s inclusion in the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. This move fits into the agenda of globalizing cricket and its integration into the world arena.
While in Brisbane, Shah will also be attending the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test, which starts at the Gabba on December 14. His visit is of interest in timing, particularly as the ICC is currently dealing with contentious matters like the Champions Trophy. Cricket Australia (CA), being a strong ally of the BCCI in ICC deliberations, is likely to play a pivotal role in shaping the tournament’s future. Though Shah is in an independent position at the ICC now, his influence over the BCCI is huge and that has been further reasserted by Saikia being present on this trip.
There are also claims that Shah has been invited by CA and New South Wales Cricket for the Sydney Test starting on January 3, 2025. Though his acceptance of the invite was expected in the first place, how this current visit to Brisbane would impact plans remains unknown.
The visit might be an important milestone in cricket’s Olympic odyssey for Shah but could also help cement relations between the ICC and Cricket Australia.
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Will India visit Pakistan for 2025 Champions Trophy?
