Everyone will be watching BCCI secretary Jay Shah at the four-day ICC Annual Conference in Colombo, which begins on Friday. There may be important talks about when he will replace New Zealander Greg Barclay as the leader of the global organization. The ICC conference, starting with a board meeting on Friday, is likely to focus on losses of over USD 20 million that the global body faced for holding T20 World Cup matches in the United States of America.
The nine-point agenda for the AGM, which PTI has a copy of, does not mention the financial specifics of the event. However, the board will review this as part of a “post-event report,” which is a usual practice.
The agenda also includes the selection of a new external auditor for the ICC, along with talks about ICC memberships, a report from the meeting of associate members, and the presentation of the ICC development Awards.
Another key issue – India not going to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy – isn’t officially on the ICC Board’s list of topics unless the chairperson allows it to be discussed under “Any Other Business”.
But a person close to what’s happening at the ICC mentioned that one of the main things everyone at the ICC is curious about is when Shah will start leading the organization.
“The focus isn’t on how but when, since he has one more year as BCCI secretary before his mandatory break from the Indian board begins in 2025 according to their rules. But if he wants to start in 2025, Barclay won’t be able to finish his third two-year term from December 2024 to December 2026,” an ICC source explained.
“Some people think it might be better if the ICC changes its chairmanship term from three two-year terms to two three-year terms, keeping the total term at six years.”
Many believe that if Barclay’s current term is extended to three years, Shah could finish his six years as BCCI secretary and then become ICC chairman in 2025 for three years during his break from the BCCI. After that, in 2028, he could return and become the board president.
