India’s Shah elected ICC chief after Barclay steps aside

India's cricket chief Jay Shah attends an event to announce the upcoming men’s cricket World Cup schedule, in Mumbai on June 27, 2023. (AFP/File)
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Updated 27 August 2024
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India’s Shah elected ICC chief after Barclay steps aside

  • 35-year-old Shah, son of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home minister Amit Shah, will be the youngest ever ICC chairman
  • Shah, considered the game’s most influential administrator as secretary of the world’s richest cricket board, was sole candidate

NEW DELHI: India’s Jay Shah will succeed New Zealander Greg Barclay as chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) later this year, the governing body said on Tuesday.

The 35-year-old Shah, son of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home minister Amit Shah, will be the youngest ever ICC chairman when be begins his tenure on Dec. 1.

Barclay decided against seeking a third term and Shah, considered the game’s most influential administrator as the secretary of the world’s richest cricket board, was the sole candidate, the ICC said.

Shah, also president of the Asian Cricket Council, said he was committed to spreading the game, which will return to the Olympics after a gap of 128 years at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

“We stand at a critical juncture where it is increasingly important to balance the coexistence of multiple formats, promote the adoption of advanced technologies, and introduce our marquee events to new global markets,” he said.

“Our goal is to make cricket more inclusive and popular than ever before.”

“The inclusion of our sport in the Olympics at LA 2028 represents a significant inflection point for the growth of cricket, and I am confident that it will drive the sport forward in unprecedented ways.”


Kuwait welcomes its new PFL MENA champion

Updated 19 December 2025
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Kuwait welcomes its new PFL MENA champion

  • Mohammad Alaqraa, 25, hailed on return home after welterweight title win over Badreddine Diani in Alkhobar

DUBAI: On Dec.15 Mohammad Alaqraa touched down at Kuwait International Airport carrying something he had been chasing for years: the PFL MENA welterweight championship belt.

His arrival came just 10 days after a unanimous decision victory over Morocco’s Badreddine Diani at Dhahran Expo in Alkhobar, Saudi Arabia. It marked a significant milestone for the Kuwaiti fighter and the combat sports landscape in the Middle East.

Greeted at the airport by his father, brother, excited fans and media representatives, Alaqraa spoke about his plans.

“It’s been a long journey, thanks to everyone that came to the airport and past events. Just like I promised I’ll get the MENA championship, my goal is to raise Kuwait’s name in this sport (and) now I promise next time I’ll come back with a world title,” he said.

Alaqraa’s arrival became an impromptu celebration. Fans had phone cameras ready for selfies and videos as he emerged holding his belt.

The championship fight against Diani was a full five-round affair that showcased Alaqraa’s growth. The judges scored the bout 49-46, 48-47 and 48-47 in his favor. Alaqraa had established control through pressure wrestling, fence work, and a steady jab.

The win was sweet after losing by referee’s stoppage to Omar El-Dafrawy in the 2024 PFL MENA Finals.

Alaqraa defeated Omar Hussein and Ayman Galal en route to the 2025 finals, with his semifinal victory over Galal ending in just 21 seconds with an oblique kick, the fastest finish in PFL MENA history.

At 25 years old, Alaqraa now holds a 10-1 record in MMA. His background encompasses multiple martial arts disciplines developed since childhood. He holds a judo black belt and finished first in an International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation tournament before turning professional in 2021.

Since leaving Kuwait at 17 to pursue MMA, Alaqraa has trained at American Kickboxing Academy under head coach Javier Mendez, the gym that has produced champions including Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev.

Alaqraa graduated from San Jose State University with a degree in industrial systems engineering while developing his fighting career.​