After a successful 5-year tenure as BCCI Secretary, Jay Shah has now been promoted to a higher position. The son of BJP key figure Amit Shah, he will soon assume the role of ICC Chairman. At the age of 35, Jay Shah will be the youngest person to hold this position. Meanwhile, Indian fans are pleased to see him as the ICC Chair, hoping that he will continue the legacy he established during his time as a BCCI officeholder.
The ICC governs cricket worldwide, and as Chairperson, Jay Shah will hold significant power. He will be able to make key changes and take important decisions. Meanwhile, Indian fans have their own demands for him. Here are the three demands that some X users voiced after Jay Shah’s appointment.
1. Bring Back Champions League and Tri-Series
The Champions League T20 was once the ultimate cricket tournament, featuring teams from five major leagues: IPL (India), BBL (Australia), Ram Slam T20 (South Africa), CPL (West Indies), and a team from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, or New Zealand after the qualification stage. The league ran for six seasons, with Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians winning two titles each, while New South Wales and Sydney Sixers each claimed one.
The tournament was discontinued after the 2014 season due to low viewership outside India, with most of the audience being generated by IPL teams. Now, fans are urging Jay Shah to revive the Champions League. Things have changed, as IPL franchises have invested in foreign leagues such as SA20 and CPL, and the viewership and fanbase of these teams are growing.
Fans also want Jay Shah to bring back the tri-series format. Currently, only associate nations are playing tri-nation series. India played their last tri-series (Nidahas Trophy) against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The series attracted huge viewership due to its intense matches, the rivalry between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, Bangladesh players’ celebrations, and India’s thrilling last-ball win in the final aginst Bangladesh. Fans are eagerly awaiting a new tri-series since this blockbuster series in 2018.
2. WTC Final To Be A 3-Match Series
India reached the finals of the first two seasons of the ICC World Test Championship but faced heartbreak as they lost both matches: against New Zealand in 2021 and against Australia in 2023. Many criticized the ICC for having a one-off final, with some cricket experts advocating for a three-match series where the winner would be crowned champion, or, in the case of a draw, the table-topping team would be declared the champion.
This discussion has gained traction following Jay Shah’s appointment as ICC Chairman. Fans are also calling for a change in venue, as the first two finals were held in England. The Kiwis and Aussies capitalized on the conditions in those finals, while India, accustomed to spin-friendly tracks, felt disadvantaged.
3. Uplift Associate Nations
Cricket is the second most popular sport in the world in terms of viewership. However, it has not yet attained the status of a truly global sport. It remains a prominent sport in 10-12 countries, while in the rest of the nations, it is played more as a minor sport. The recent T20 World Cup featured 20 teams, but the tournament lacked competitive depth, with the USA team being a notable exception; they defeated Pakistan and advanced to the final eight.
The rise of cricket in the USA has been fueled by India’s investment through Major League Cricket. However, the ICC primarily focuses its attention on the top boards, such as BCCI, CA, and ECB. Fans are now calling on ICC Chairperson Jay Shah to allocate more support and funding to associate nations to help them develop and grow.
