Sachin Tendulkar, the legendary cricketer, praised newly-elected ICC Chairman Jay Shah for his impactful tenure as BCCI Secretary, emphasizing Shah’s efforts in giving equal priority to both men’s and women’s cricket. Tendulkar commended Shah’s enthusiasm and dedication, which have made the Indian board a “pioneer” for other cricket governing bodies. Shah, who will leave BCCI after a five-year term that began in October 2019, will assume the role of independent chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) on December 1, becoming the youngest to hold the position at 35.
Tendulkar, along with other current and former players, extended his best wishes to Shah. “Being enthusiastic and having the drive to do something good for cricket are essential qualities for a cricket administrator. Jay Shah displayed these traits wonderfully during his stint as BCCI secretary,” Tendulkar wrote on X (formerly Twitter). He also highlighted Shah’s commitment to both men’s and women’s cricket, which has set a standard for other boards.
Tendulkar expressed confidence that Shah, who will be the fifth Indian to lead the ICC, would build on the legacy of his predecessors like Jagmohan Dalmiya, Sharad Pawar, N. Srinivasan, and Shashank Manohar, and continue to advance the game of cricket globally.
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who was BCCI president during Shah’s first term, congratulated him, writing, “Congratulations to Jay Shah on his new role as ICC chair. Wish him a great journey ahead.” Virat Kohli, India’s batting mainstay, also conveyed his congratulations, saying, “Many congratulations Jay Shah on being elected as the ICC chairman. Wishing you great success ahead.”
India’s Test and ODI captain Rohit Sharma added his heartfelt congratulations, while Jasprit Bumrah expressed confidence in Shah’s passion for the game, wishing him success in his new role.
