On December 1, Jay Shah, the former BCCI chief, began his tenure as the chair of the International Cricket Council. Shah has risen from strength to strength ever since he took the mantle of Indian cricket. He will be succeeding New Zealand's Greg Barclay at the ICC, after being elected unopposed. 

"I am honoured to take on the role of ICC chair and grateful for the support and trust of the ICC directors and member boards," Shah said in a statement on his first day in the role. "This is an exciting time for the sport as we prepare for the LA28 Olympic Games and work to make cricket more inclusive and engaging for fans worldwide.” 

Shah became the youngest head of the ICC, at the age of 36, but he is not the first Indian to hold the covetous position. Before Shah, four Indians have been the president or chairman of cricket's apex body. 

H2: The Only 4 Indians, besides Jay Shah, who become ICC Chairman: 

Jagmohan Dalmiya 

Jagmohan Dalmiya, who served as ICC President from 1997 to 2000, was pivotal in bringing about transformative changes in the governance of the organization, including a significant restructuring and a more inclusive decision-making process. His tenure elevated India's standing in world cricket and his diplomatic prowess helped foster better relationships between various cricket boards. Dalmiya's leadership was crucial in expanding cricket's global reach and enhancing the financial stability of the ICC, setting the stage for the modern structure of the organization. 

Sharad Pawar 

Sharad Pawar served as the President of the ICC from 2010 to 2012. He was dedicated to expanding the global popularity of cricket and ensuring its sustainability in emerging markets. During his tenure, the ICC made significant progress in promoting the sport in non-traditional cricketing nations, mostly in European nations. 

N Srinivasan 

N. Srinivasan's tenure as an ICC Chairman was shortlived, lasting merely beyond a year, from July 26, 2014, to November 9, 2015. Srinivasan is also the owner of Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League, and that made his appointment pretty controversial due to a conflict of interest. Srinivasan was sacked from this role by the BCCI after his involvement in the match-fixing scandal that rocked the IPL in 2013. 

Shashank Manohar 

After Srinivasan was dethroned from the role of ICC Chairman, the BCCI recommended the name of Shashank Manohar, who served in this role for five years. He took charge on November 22, 2015, and remained in power till June 30, 2020, thus becoming the longest-serving ICC president. He played a key role in implementing the World Test Championship to increase the dwindling popularity of Test cricket.