Jay Shah could end up being the ICC chair for two terms of three years each instead of three terms of two years each, which is the current norm, after he takes over on December 1. This after the ICC Board, which met in Dubai over the weekend, recommended that the term - for the chair and the independent director - be changed.
In a statement on Monday, the ICC said that the recommendation will now be "circulated for approval" among its members, comprising Full and Associate Members.
While no reason behind the recommendation was made public, it is understood that the move is part of the ICC's drive for better governance. The ICC Board believes it will provide security and stability to both the chair and independent director, who sit on the ICC Board, without having to worry about elections every two years. Also, while the overall term of six years remains the same, there will be more continuity.
Shah, who is 35, was elected unopposed to replace outgoing ICC chair Greg Barclay, who has served two of his three terms since being elected in 2020 for the first time. The independent director's position, meanwhile, has been lying vacant since former Pepsico chair Indra Nooyi finished her three terms earlier this summer.
There were changes to the ICC men's cricket committee, too, with New Zealand businessman Scott Weenink appointed Full Member representative, and Scott Edwards, the 28-year-old Netherlands captain, named Associate Member representative.
In a statement issued by the Royal Dutch Cricket Association*, Edwards said, "I am extremely excited and grateful to have the opportunity to join the ICC Men's Cricket Committee. Having been in the ICC Associate Member system, and playing with and against many Full Member and Associate Member sides over the past six years, I believe I have a good understanding of the challenges Associate countries and players face. I look forward to representing these countries to the best of my ability."
Women's FTP for 2025-2029 to be out soon
The ICC Board has approved the next women's future tours programme (FTP) for the 2025-2029 cycle, which will be announced in a few days. It will be the second FTP for women following the one announced in 2022.
The ICC chief executives' committee (CEC) also approved shifting the calendar for the women's rankings annual update from October 1 to May 1 each year. In order for the rankings to reflect, the teams will have to play a minimum of eight matches per format (ODIs and T20Is) as opposed to the six currently. This is because of the increase in the volume of women's cricket.
The mechanism for Associate teams to gain ODI status has also been formalised. Currently, there are 16 women's teams with ODI status. Apart from the 11 Full Members, five Associate Members - Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, Thailand and USA - were included in the 2022-2025 cycle. For the 2025-2029 cycle, the top-two Associate teams that qualify for the women's ODI World Cup qualifier 2025 will gain ODI status, while the remaining three slots will be filled based on the T20I rankings at the time of annual update [May 1, 2025]. This will mean that their ODI status will hinge on their T20I performances.
The creation of two annual T20I tournaments between 2025 and 2028 for Associate teams has also been approved. This is to boost competition ahead of the 16-team women's T20 World Cup in 2030.
* The article was updated with Scott Edwards' statement at 11.55am GMT on October 22, 2024