ICC chairman Greg Barclay confirmed he would not stand for a third term, with his second term ending on November 30. The development triggered speculation about Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary, as the potential next in line to the sport's governing body.
It will only be known by August 27, the last date for nominations, whether Shah will throw his hat into the ring for the incumbent position.
The ICC Chairman allows three terms of two years each, and Barclay, who is based in New Zealand and a practicing lawyer by profession, has spent four years at the helm.
"ICC Chair Greg Barclay confirmed to the Board that he will not stand for a third term and will step down from the post when his current tenure finishes at the end of November. Barclay was appointed as the Independent ICC Chair in November 2020, before being re-elected in 2022," said the ICC in a media release.
According to ICC rules, the election of a chairman requires 16 votes while winning requires a simple majority of nine votes. To this end, until now, the election required a two-thirds majority.
"Current directors are now required to put forward nominations for the next Chair by 27 August 2024 and if there is more than one candidate, an election will be held with the term of the new Chair commencing on 1 December 2024.".
Shah has been called one of the strongest men in the ICC boardroom. Currently, he is leading ICC's Finance and Commercial Affairs sub-committee.
He enjoys great backing among the 16 voting members. Shah still has a year remaining as BCCI secretary before the mandatory three-year cooling-off period kicks off in October 2025.
According to the BCCI constitution, an office bearer can have six years in office before a cooling-off period of three years. Meanwhile, a maximum cumulative period of 18 years in office—nine in a state association and nine in BCCI—is allowed to a person.
If Shah decides to focus on international cricket while one year is still left of his tenure as secretary, he will have four years left with BCCI.
At 35, he can become the youngest ICC chairman.
The Indians who have headed ICC in the past are Jagmohan Dalmiya, Sharad Pawar, N Srinivasan and Shashank Manohar.
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