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regular-article-logo Saturday, 14 September 2024

Mamata Banerjee congratulates Amit Shah for Jay Shah’s ICC crown

Bengal chief minister bowls a bouncer – or is it a googly – after Union home minister’s son is named the new ICC chairman

Our Web Desk Calcutta Published 29.08.24, 05:42 PM
Mamata Banerjee and Jay Shah.

Mamata Banerjee and Jay Shah. File picture.

Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday sent out a public message congratulating Union home minister Amit Shah for his son’s imminent promotion as chair of the International Cricket Committee.

Mamata’s delivery on X (formerly Twitter) can turn any way you want it to.

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“Congratulations, Union Home Minister!! Your son has not become a politician, but has become the ICC Chairman - a post much much more important than most politicians'!! Your son has indeed become very very powerful and I congratulate you on his this most elevated achievement indeed. Kudos!!”

Bengal BJP spokesperson Archana Majumdar was not pleased.

“Start by congratulating your brothers, BOA [Bengal Olympic Association] President Ajit Banerjee and Joint Secretary Babun Banerjee, for their outstanding performance in the Paris Olympics.” Majumdar replied to Mamata’s post.

Jay Shah, chairman of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), is slated to become the ICC chairman from December 1, 2024. Cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir were quick in congratulating Jay Shah after the news broke. Jay Shah was also quick in thanking them.

The ICC in its press release on Tuesday announced his chairmanship.

“I am humbled by the nomination,” the son of India’s home minister said in a statement. “I am committed to working closely with the ICC team and our member nations to further globalize cricket…The inclusion of our sport in the Olympics at LA 2028 represents a significant inflection point for the growth of cricket.”

Jay Shah’s chairmanship at the BCCI hasn’t been free of controversy. When Shah became the chairman of the Asian Cricket Council in 2021, Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi had said, “ Meritocracy, BJP style!”

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