India’s Jay Shah to be cricket world body chairman: ICC

BCCI secretary Jay Shah at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) awards in Hyderabad, India, Jan. 23, 2024. (AP Photo)
Short Url
Updated 27 August 2024
Follow

India’s Jay Shah to be cricket world body chairman: ICC

  • Shah will take over the role from December, after current Chair Greg Barclay decided not to seek a third term
  • Jay Shah: ‘I am committed to working closely with the ICC team and our member nations to further globalize cricket’

NEW DELHI: India’s cricket chief Jay Shah has been elected unopposed as chairman of the sport’s world body, the International Cricket Council, it said Tuesday.
Shah will take over the role from December, after current Chair Greg Barclay decided not to seek a third term.
“I am committed to working closely with the ICC team and our member nations to further globalize cricket,” Shah said, adding he was “humbled” by the appointment.
“Our goal is to make cricket more inclusive and popular than ever before.”
From being the chief of the world’s richest cricket board to leading the ICC, the 35-year-old’s meteoric rise illustrates India’s domination of the sport’s global administration.
In a country where the sport and politics go hand in glove, Shah is best known for being the son of home minister Amit Shah, the right-hand man of Hindu-nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Shah, the powerful Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India since 2019, becomes the youngest ICC chairman.
Top cricketers in India enjoy superstardom with millions of die-hard fans, most lucrative playing contracts, and endorsement deals not seen anywhere else in global cricket.
By some counts, Indian cricket on average generates more revenue than Bollywood.
More than 90 percent of the sport’s billion-plus worldwide fans are in the Indian subcontinent, according to a 2018 ICC study.
The ICC is the global governing body for cricket, with more than 100 members, and is responsible for staging global events such as the World Cup.
Shah said he wanted to “embrace fresh thinking and innovation to elevate the love for cricket worldwide.”


Griezmann’s free kick seals Atletico Madrid progress in Copa del Rey

Updated 18 sec ago
Follow

Griezmann’s free kick seals Atletico Madrid progress in Copa del Rey

  • Last year’s champions Barcelona will play at Racing Club Santander on Thursday

Antoine Griezmann’s sublime second-half free kick earned Atletico Madrid a 1-0 win at second-tier Deportivo La Coruna on Tuesday, securing their spot in the Copa del ​Rey quarter-finals.
Coming off a frustrating start to 2026 with a disappointing 1-1 draw in LaLiga against Real Sociedad and a 2-1 loss in the Spanish Super Cup to bitter rivals Real Madrid, Diego Simeone fielded a near full-strength side at the Riazor Stadium, with only goalkeeper Jan Oblak rested among regular starters.
Midfielder Conor Gallagher, reportedly ‌close to joining ‌Tottenham Hotspur, and forward Giacomo ‌Raspadori, ⁠linked ​with a ‌move to Atalanta, were also absent from the squad that made the trip to Galicia.
Atletico dictated the early proceedings, with Julian Alvarez denied by La Coruna keeper German Parreno following a sharp effort, while Matteo Ruggeri struck the woodwork in the 15th minute.
La Coruna came close to an opener ⁠when Cristian Herrera’s close-range shot was superbly saved by Atletico’s back-up goalkeeper Juan ‌Musso.
Griezmann grew into the game, narrowly ‍missing the target with ‍a fierce strike from distance that rattled the crossbar ‍in the 40th minute before the decisive moment arrived in the 61st.
Awarded a free kick on the edge of the penalty area, Griezmann stepped up and delivered a left-footed effort that curled ​into the top corner, leaving keeper German Parreno with no chance.
Atletico maintained control for much of ⁠the second half, their defensive organization under Simeone proving impenetrable for a La Coruna side that has now won just once in their last seven outings across all competitions.
Despite dominating possession and creating further chances, Atletico struggled to add to their lead, with Griezmann’s strike proving the only goal of the match.
Atletico were the first team to advance to the quarter-finals, as Real Madrid will visit Albacete on Wednesday in Alvaro Arbeloa’s debut as the club’s new manager following ‌Xabi Alonso’s departure on Monday.
Last year’s champions Barcelona will play at Racing Club Santander on Thursday.