Mumbai: In a significant development for the cricketing world, Jay Shah, the former Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and current President of the International Cricket Council (ICC), has been inducted as a founding member of the Marylebone Cricket Club’s (MCC) newly formed Cricket Connects Advisory Council. This council replaces the long-standing World Cricket Committee, established in 2006, and aims to address crucial issues facing the game globally.
A New Chapter for MCC and Global Cricket
The Cricket Connects Advisory Council is chaired by former MCC President Kumar Sangakkara and comprises 13 distinguished members from across the cricketing landscape. Other notable founding members include former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly, South African cricket legend Graeme Smith, and former England captain Andrew Strauss.
This council marks a new phase in MCC’s efforts to shape the future of the sport. MCC President Mark Nicholas highlighted the council’s formation as a vital step, stating, “We have brought together some of the finest minds in cricket from across the globe. I am excited to collaborate with this experienced group to work towards the betterment of the game.”
Jay Shah’s Role in the Advisory Council
Jay Shah’s inclusion in the advisory council is a strategic move, recognizing his contributions to cricket governance and his pivotal role in shaping Indian and global cricket. While Shah was absent from the MCC’s inaugural World Cricket Connects Forum last year, his membership in this advisory council underlines his commitment to the sport’s growth and evolution.
Advisory Council’s Goals and Upcoming Forum
The advisory council will replace the World Cricket Committee and act as a think tank, meeting regularly to deliberate on pressing issues in cricket. The members will also convene for an annual meeting to assess and address the game’s challenges.
The MCC also announced that the second World Cricket Connects Forum will take place at Lord’s on June 7-8, just ahead of the ICC World Test Championship final. This forum will bring together key stakeholders to discuss and strategize on critical aspects of cricket’s development.
Legacy of the World Cricket Committee
The World Cricket Committee, while independent and without formal authority, has historically influenced cricket’s evolution through its recommendations. Innovations such as the Decision Review System (DRS), the World Test Championship, day-night pink-ball Tests, and the Slow Over Rate Timeout were all born out of the committee’s insights.
The Cricket Connects Advisory Council is set to build on this legacy, with its members drawn from diverse cricketing backgrounds to ensure a holistic approach to the game’s progress.
Council Members
The founding members of the MCC Cricket Connects Advisory Council include:
- Chairperson: Kumar Sangakkara (Former MCC President)
- Anurag Dahiya (ICC Chief Commercial Officer)
- Chris Dehring (CEO, Cricket West Indies)
- Sourav Ganguly
- Sanjog Gupta (CEO – Sports, JioStar)
- Mel Jones
- Heather Knight
- Trudy Lindblade (CEO, Cricket Scotland)
- Heath Mills (President, World Cricketers’ Association)
- Imtiaz Patel (Former President, SuperSport)
- Jay Shah
- Graeme Smith
- Andrew Strauss
With this diverse and experienced group, the Cricket Connects Advisory Council is poised to influence the future of cricket significantly, ensuring its relevance and growth in the modern era.
