New Delhi: Jay Shah, the current chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and former secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has been appointed as a board member of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) World Cricket Connects Advisory Board. The announcement was made on Thursday, marking another significant milestone in Shah’s administrative career.
MCC’s New Advisory Board
Jay Shah is one of the 13 founding members of the World Cricket Connects Advisory Board, which replaces the World Cricket Committee established in 2006. The advisory board will be chaired by former Sri Lankan captain and MCC president Kumar Sangakkara. Other notable members include former India captain Sourav Ganguly, South African cricketing legend Graeme Smith, former England cricket director Andrew Strauss, England women’s captain Heather Knight, and JioStar CEO Sanjog Gupta.
The first meeting of the World Cricket Connects forum was held last year at Lord’s, where over 100 leading voices discussed the state of the global game. Although Shah was absent from the inaugural event, his inclusion as a founding member of the advisory board highlights his growing influence in international cricket.
Second World Cricket Connects Forum
The MCC announced that the second World Cricket Connects forum will take place at Lord’s on June 7 and 8, ahead of the World Test Championship final between Australia and South Africa. The forum will gather prominent figures from the cricketing world to deliberate on key issues impacting the global game.
MCC Chairman’s Vision
MCC chairman Mark Nicholas expressed his excitement about the new advisory board and the upcoming forum. “We are thrilled to bring together some of the most influential minds in cricket to discuss the pressing topics that shape the global game,” Nicholas said. “The formation of the World Cricket Connects Advisory Board is a significant step forward. This group comprises exceptional talent and experience, and I’m eager to see what we can achieve collectively for the benefit of cricket worldwide.”
Members of the World Cricket Connects Advisory Board
The new advisory board includes a diverse group of experienced professionals:
- Kumar Sangakkara (Chairman and MCC President)
- Jay Shah (ICC Chairman)
- Sourav Ganguly (Former India Captain)
- Graeme Smith (Former South Africa Opener)
- Andrew Strauss (Former England Cricket Director)
- Heather Knight (England Women’s Captain)
- Sanjog Gupta (JioStar CEO)
- Mel Jones (Former Australian Cricketer)
- Trudy Lindblade (Sports Administrator)
- Anurag Dahiya (Cricket Strategist)
- Chris Dehring (Cricket Consultant)
- Heath Mills (Player Representative)
- Imtiaz Patel (Sports Executive)
The World Cricket Connects Advisory Board aims to provide strategic insights and innovative solutions for the growth and development of cricket worldwide, building on the legacy of the now-disbanded World Cricket Committee.
