Jay Shah, who took over the charge of ICC Chairman on Sunday, said his vision was to make cricket accessible to more people while making sure that its evolution matches the aspirations of cricket fans across the world.
"I am deeply honored to begin my role as ICC Chair today. Cricket is a sport that unites millions across the globe, and this is a moment of immense responsibility and opportunity," Shah said on X, formerly Twitter.
"As we begin the most transformative phase for cricket, I am committed to closely working with the ICC team and Member countries for its growth in terms of increasing global footprint and new development channels,
"From grassroots level activities to marquee events, the focus is to make the game more accessible to everyone with its evolution being according to the aspirations of all cricket fans around the globe," he added.
Shah further extended his support to Test cricket and said that it should be preserved in its stature and appeal to fans. He also mentioned women's cricket as a mainstay of ICC's 'growth strategy'.
"Test cricket remains the pinnacle of the game and my commitment is to protect the status of the game but make it more appealing and attractive to fans. Concurrently, women's cricket shall be a key element in our growth strategy as we would take the game to further milestones.
"I thank all Member Boards for their trust and support. Together, we will strive to take cricket to unprecedented heights, inspiring the next generation and uniting communities through our great game of cricket," Shah concluded.
Shah brings extensive experience in cricket administration, having started his journey in 2009 with the Gujarat Cricket Association. During his tenure, he oversaw the development of the world's largest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad.
In 2019, Shah became the youngest Honorary Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). He has further served as the President of the Asian Cricket Council and Chair of the ICC's Finance and Commercial Affairs Committee.
Shah is taking over as ICC Chair from Greg Barclay, who had taken over as ICC Chair in November 2020.
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