Jay Shah takes over as ICC chairman: Key priorities and challenges ahead for former BCCI secretary
FirstpostFrom solving the crisis surrounding the 2025 Champions Trophy to possibly revamping the World Test Championship structure, new ICC chairman Jay Shah has several challenges that lie ahead. The Indian government’s decision to refuse permission for its national cricket team to travel across the border for the 50-over tournament in February-March next year wasn’t unexpected, but it has triggered angst and exasperation and a sense of outrage in Pakistan, who feel that they have been shortchanged because they have visited India for global events – the 2011 50-over World Cup, the 2016 T20 World Cup and last year’s 50-over extravaganza – without the Indians’ reciprocity. Jay Shah’s first challenge will be to break the deadlock between India and Pakistan with the 2025 Champions Trophy looming closer. Already, the England and Wales Cricket Board’s move to deny NOCs to players with standard all-format county contracts to play in the Pakistan Super League next year has triggered threats of legal action, and unfair trade practice charges will need to be considered for the world body to impose restrictions of any kind.