The International Cricket Council (ICC) incurred losses of approximately USD 20 million (Rs 167 crore) from hosting the T20 World Cup 2024 games in the USA, as reported by PTI. This financial setback is expected to be a significant topic at the ICC Annual Conference starting on Friday in Colombo. Although not part of the nine-point agenda for the Annual General Meeting (AGM), the issue will be discussed in a “post-event report.” A large portion of the tournament, including the highly anticipated India vs. Pakistan match, was held in the USA, specifically in New York.
Another key topic for discussion during the AGM is the potential replacement of ICC chairman Greg Barclay by BCCI secretary Jay Shah. According to the PTI report, an ICC source indicated that there is strong interest in Shah taking over the role. Shah still has one year left as BCCI secretary before his mandatory cooling-off period begins in 2025, as per the BCCI constitution. For Shah to take over in 2025, Barclay would need to cut short his third two-year term, which is scheduled from December 2024 to December 2026.
There is speculation about altering the ICC chairmanship term from three terms of two years each to two terms of three years each, maintaining the cumulative six-year term. If Barclay’s current term extends to three years, Shah could complete his six years as BCCI secretary and then take over as ICC chairman in 2025 for three years during his cooling-off period. After completing his ICC term in 2028, Shah could return and potentially become the BCCI president.
