The International Cricket Council’s annual conference, which begins in Colombo on Friday, is likely to throw light on whether BCCI secretary Jay Shah is interested in the global body’s chairman’s position.
The election for the top post is not on the agenda and will be held in November, but he will have ample opportunity to reveal his cards during the four-day conclave.
Shah has remained non-committal on his speculated move to the ICC headquarters in Dubai since incumbent Greg Barclay is eligible for another term.
The ICC board will approve the amendment to the tenure of its chairman at the meeting — from the existing three terms of two years each to two terms of three years each.
If Shah throws his hat in the ring for the ICC chair, he is likely to be elected unopposed. He can then serve his full six-year term at the ICC or return to the BCCI as its president in 2028 having served the mandatory cooling-off period.
As already reported by The Telegraph, the board meeting could turn out to be a stormy affair if the venue for the Champions Trophy comes up for discussion. The BCCI hasn’t yet made it public, but India won’t travel to Pakistan for the tournament.
There are strong indications that the BCCI wants to follow the hybrid model — used during the Asia Cup in September last — and play their matches in the UAE or Sri Lanka.
Another issue which will generate a lot of heat at the meeting will be the conduct of the US leg of the T20 World Cup last month. Besides questions regarding the pitch in New York, where 16 of the 55 World Cup matches were hosted, spiralling costs which overshot the estimated budget by several notches will dominate the debate.
Alarmed at the turn of events, a member of the ICC board, Pankaj Khimji, is believed to have sent an email calling for an investigation into the US leg. Two senior ICC officials — head of events Chris Tetley, and Claire Furlong, the general manager, marketing and communications — who were closely involved in the running of the US leg have already resigned.
Discussions on “capitalising on the Olympics opportunity” will also take place, keeping in mind the Los Angeles Games in 2028.
