The legendary Sachin Tendulkar, former captain and BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and current India ODI and Test captain Rohit Sharma and star batsman Virat Kohli congratulated Jay Shah on being elected unopposed as the new chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Tendulkar joined several former and current players to wish Shah, who at the age of 35 will be the youngest ICC chairman in history.
“Enthusiasm and the desire to do good for cricket are essential qualities for a cricket administrator. @JayShah displayed these qualities brilliantly during his tenure as @BCCI Secretary,” Tendulkar wrote on X.
“His efforts to prioritise both women's and men's cricket have made the BCCI a leader that other boards can follow. I wish him all the best for the next phase of his journey as he becomes the youngest-ever President of the @ICC,” he added.
Shah will be the fifth Indian to become ICC President and Tendulkar expressed hope that he will be successful in carrying forward the legacy.
He said, “India has sent many stalwarts to lead the ICC as administrators: Mr Jagmohan Dalmiya, Mr Sharad Pawar, Mr N Srinivasan and Mr Shashank Manohar. I am sure he will carry forward their legacy and take the game of cricket forward.”
Ganguly, Kohli, Rohit also included
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who was BCCI president during Shah's first term, wrote, “Congratulations to Jay Shah on his new role as ICC President… Best wishes to him for his journey ahead…”
India's star batsman Virat Kohli also congratulated Shah on his new role. He wrote, “Many congratulations to Jay Shah on being elected ICC Chairman. Wishing you lots of success for your future.”
India's Test and ODI captain Rohit Sharma wrote, “Heartiest congratulations to Jay Shah.” Jasprit Bumrah also extended his wishes, saying, “Congratulations Jay Shah bhai! Your passion for the game will take it to the next level. Wishing you all the best!”
The 35-year-old will leave his current post as BCCI secretary on December 1 and replace Greg Barclay, who will become the ICC's youngest chairman for a two-year term.
“While T20 is an inherently exciting format, it is equally important that Test cricket remains a priority for everyone as it is the bedrock of our game,” Shah said in a statement issued by the BCCI on Tuesday.
He said, “We have to ensure that cricketers are attracted towards the longer format and our efforts will be focused towards this goal.”