Virat Kohli reacted to Jay Shah’s election as ICC chairman and extended his wishes for bagging the prestigious role.
Shah was elected unopposed and will take over the duties from Greg Barclay in December 2024.
Virat Kohli On Jay Shah Being Elected As ICC Chair (Source:X)
Virat Kohli extended his wishes to Jay Shah for being elected as the ICC Chairman. Shah was elected unopposed for the high-profile role and will take over the duties from Greg Barclay in December 2024. Kohli joined the long list of Indian cricketers who wished Shah on bagging the elite role. Earlier, the likes of Hardik Pandya and Gautam Gambhir, among others, extended wishes to Jay Shah.
Meanwhile, Shah will have some big decisions to make during his early stint as ICC chair. The biggest of them all will be to solve the Champions Trophy saga. The tournament is scheduled in Pakistan, however, the Indian government is unlikely to approve the team’s visit. PCB is also firm on hosting the tournament entirely in Pakistan. There could be a situation where India may threaten to pull out of the tournament which won’t be good for ICC or PCB.
Shah will have little say in the Indian government’s approval, however, he could offer PCB a better deal and convince them to play the tournament in hybrid model, whether or not they take it or refuse is a different concern.
Meanwhile, Shah after his election as ICC chairman said he would ensure that Test cricket remains priority for everyone.
“While the T20 is a naturally exciting format, it is equally important that Test cricket remains a priority for everyone as it forms the bedrock of our game.
“We must see to it that cricketers are driven to longer format and our efforts will be channelised towards this goal,” Shah said in a statement issued by the BCCI.
“I would like to work towards setting up a separate program for talent search during my tenure, and I look forward to your support in this program.” Shah emphasised on further lifting the standards of the game across the globe.
“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to ICC’s Member Boards for placing their trust in me to take over this prestigious role of the Chairman of the ICC. I want to assure you that I will do everything possible to elevate the standard of our game across the globe.
“As I step into this pivotal role, I am resolutely committed to meeting your high expectations and dedicating myself to the beautiful game of cricket,” he added.
