Mumbai: The International Cricket Council (ICC) Chairman Jay Shah has been honoured with the Icon of Excellence Award at the 14th edition of the Forbes India Leadership Awards (FILA 2025). The award recognises his remarkable contributions to the cricket administration.
From his impactful tenure as the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to becoming the youngest-ever ICC Chair, Shah has been at the forefront of driving innovation, inclusivity, and growth in the sport.
The award was presented to him by Harsh Mariwala, Chairman of Marico Limited, and KVS Manian, MD & CEO of Federal Bank, at a prestigious event held at the JIO World Convention Centre in Mumbai on Friday.
Jay Shah’s leadership has been instrumental in pioneering key initiatives such as pay parity in cricket, the launch of the Women’s Premier League, the establishment of the National Cricket Academy’s Centre of Excellence, and an increase in monthly pensions amongst others, said the organisers of the award in a statement on Friday. His relentless efforts to expand cricket’s reach, enhance global collaborations, and elevate the sport’s infrastructure continue to shape the game’s future on an international scale, the statement said.
Shah, 36, was elected unopposed as the new ICC Chairman to replace Greg Barclay, who has been at the helm since November 2020. He became the youngest person to hold the coveted spot and is the fifth Indian to be ICC Chairman after Jagmohan Dalmiya, Sharad Pawar, N Srinivasan, and Shashank Manohar.
Shah’s journey in cricket administration began in 2009 with the Gujarat Cricket Association. During his tenure, he oversaw the development of the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. In 2019, he became the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the youngest person to hold the post. He has also played important roles as the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and as Chair of the ICC’s Finance and Commercial Affairs Committee.
(IANS)
