At the Asian Cricket Council‘s (ACC) Annual General Meeting, the group unanimously decided to prolong Jay Shah‘s tenure as President by one year.
For the second time, Shammi Silva, the President of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), suggested Jay Shah’s renewal, and every ACC member supported the proposal. Shah became the youngest administrator to be reappointed as the ACC President when he succeeded Nazmul Hassan, President of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), in January 2021.
The ACC has made great strides in growing and promoting cricket throughout Asia under Shah’s direction. For instance, the Asia Cup was successfully hosted by the ACC in 2022 in T20 format and 2023 in ODI format, demonstrating Asia’s potential to hold elite cricket tournaments.
Sri Lanka Cricket, President, Shammi Silva, said, “Jay has played a pivotal role in steering the ACC towards significant progress in promoting and developing cricket across the Asian region.” Under Mr. Shah’s guidance, the ACC has been instrumental in unearthing and promoting new talent in cricketing powerhouses like Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. I am pleased that the ACC Board supported the proposal unanimously. Jay has a proven record of boosting finances through commercial and broadcast deals and channelizing the finances to the grassroots level, uplifting the associate members.”
Shah’s demonstrated ability to improve financial stability through calculated commercial and broadcast agreements was also recognised by the board of the ACC. Furthermore, Shah’s dedication to directing these monetary funds towards local levels enhances associate members of the ACC.
Pankaj Khimji, Chairman of Oman Cricket and Vice President of the ACC, said. “I’ve worked closely with Mr. Jay Shah for a considerable time and know firsthand of his passion and enthusiasm towards administration. He is a young and dynamic leader with a clear vision and roadmap. Not only has he managed to foster a collaborative spirit among the Member Boards but has significantly enhanced the financial and commercial standing of the ACC. Today, stakeholders see value in investing in tournaments that the ACC conducts, and I credit him for this major transformation, which will further fuel the growth of the game in the region. I look forward to working closely with him on taking ACC to the next level.”
Nazmul Hassan, President of the Bangladesh Cricket Board and an Executive Board Member of the ACC, commented, “I congratulate Mr. Jay Shah and all the members of the ACC for unanimously voting to extend his term. Under Mr. Shah, the ACC has scaled new heights, and he has been instrumental in developing and strengthening grassroots cricket. The Asia Cup is now the most sought-after continental tournament in world cricket and also the most-anticipated, and Mr. Shah deserves appreciation for elevating this tournament to the level it deserves. I am fully confident that cricket in Asia will continue to prosper, and we will work closely with ACC in furthering this endeavour.”
Mirwais Ashraf, Chairman of Afghanistan Cricket Board and Executive Board Member of the ACC, said, “I congratulate Mr Jay Shah on his reappointment as the ACC President for a third term. His leadership has been a catalyst for growth and popularity of the sport within the Asian cricketing community. He laid an impetus on providing more exposure to the cricketers from the region and we see that across formats. The Asia Cup is definitely a crowning jewel and it showcases the true competitiveness inherent in Asian teams. His financial prudence ranging from broadcast deals to commercial and sponsorship agreements have made his two previous terms highly impactful and engaging. I assure him full support and I look forward to yet another successful term and an enriching period for ACC under him.”
Shah’s administration has enabled the ACC to aggressively promote cricket in numerous areas of the continent. The ACC’s dedication to broadening the cricketing landscape is evident in the growing interest shown by emerging cricketing nations like Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Nepal, Thailand, Hong Kong, Iran, Malaysia, Myanmar, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and others.
On the news, Jay Shah said, “I am grateful to the ACC Board for their continued trust. We must remain committed to ensuring the all-round development of the sport with a special focus on regions where it is still in its infancy. The ACC is committed to nurturing cricket across Asia.”
The ACC is responsible for coordinating several facets of the sport across the continent, including important competitions like the Asia Cup for men and women and the Emerging Teams Cup for women and men.