The ICC chairman Jay Shah has been inducted into a newly instituted World Cricket Connects Advisory Board, an independent group that will discuss the many challenges and opportunities in the sport during a discussion at the Lord’s on June 7 and 8. Former BCCI secretary Shah, regarded as the most influential man in world cricket, had taken over as the ICC chairperson on December 1 last year, and his presence at the ‘World Cricket Connects’ forum is a chance for him to convey his ideas to a wider stage.

Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the custodian of the laws of cricket, on Tuesday announced that World Cricket Connects, the event to bring together the most prominent thinkers, voices and influencers in the game, will take place once again this year.

“The forum, which proved hugely popular in bringing together influential people from across all aspects of cricket in its inaugural year in 2024, will be held ahead of the ICC World Test Championship Final between South Africa and Australia,” said MCC in release.

The first event saw around 120 leading voices in cricket gather in the Long Room last July. These included representatives from across the game and the industry such as administrators from the ICC’s full and associate nations, leading broadcasters, technology experts, coaches and both current and former international players.

“As the Club evolves the World Cricket Connects concept, the aim is for it to become the leading symposium in the game, facilitating the debate of strategic issues in an independent forum and establishing a consensus on paths to ensure cricket’s future success,” the release stated.

“To achieve this objective, MCC has revealed that a new World Cricket Connects Advisory Board (Connects Board) has been formed. This independent group will shape the annual World Cricket Connects agenda, help facilitate the event’s discussions and in turn maximise the opportunity for genuine impact on the health of the game.” The Connects Board replaces the MCC World Cricket committee, and many of the areas of the global game which were debated and influenced as part of its remit will now be included and discussed by the Connects Board.

The committee was established in 2006 as an independent body and completed a range of important work across the game’s topics, including day/night Tests, the World Test Championship, speeding up the pace of play, cricket in multi-format sports events such as the Olympics, and stronger anti-corruption deterrents.

The Connects Board will work closely with the World Cricket Connects working group, which is led by Chair of MCC, Mark Nicholas.

“Firstly, we are delighted to be bringing World Cricket Connects back to Lord’s in 2025, ahead of an immense meeting between South Africa and Australia in the ICC World Test Championship Final.

“We are looking forward to welcoming many of the game’s most influential figures to debate the most important topics that dominate global cricket,” Nicholas said.

“In planning the second event, an important step has been made in the forming of the World Cricket Connects Advisory Board. We have assembled an impressive group of the best minds in cricket across several different areas relevant to our sport.

“I am delighted to be working with this experienced group and excited about what we can collectively achieve for the benefit of the global game,” he added.

MCC said the following names have accepted invitations to join the board: Kumar Sangakkara (Chair – Former Sri Lanka captain and former President of MCC) Anurag Dahiya (Chief Commercial Officer at ICC) Chris Dehring (CEO at West Indies Cricket) Sourav Ganguly (Former India captain and former President of BCCI) Sanjog Gupta (CEO- Sports, JioStar) Mel Jones (Former Australia international and current broadcaster) Heather Knight (England captain) Trudy Lindblade (CEO at Cricket Scotland) Heath Mills (Executive Chair at World Cricketers’ Association) Imtiaz Patel (Former Chair of SuperSport, MultiChoice and DStv) Jay Shah (Chair of ICC) Graeme Smith (Former South Africa captain and League Commissioner at SA20) Andrew Strauss (Former England captain and former Director of Cricket at ECB).

Picture of Shammi Silva.© X/@ACCMedia1

The numbers will favour Jay Shah to mount the saddle as the next ICC Chairman but there is no clarity if he decides to join the world governing body, who will replace him as BCCI secretary. Shah is supposed to have the backing of 15 out of 16 members in the ICC Board but has less than 96 hours to decide if he wants to make the move when he still has one year left in his second consecutive term as BCCI secretary. The new ICC chairman will take charge on December 1, and the last date for filing nomination is August 27. The mandatory three-year cooling off period to make a comeback to the wealthiest cricket board will start for Shah after completion of his term in October 2025.

But there is a big question mark as to who will replace Shah in the BCCI since neither he himself nor the people close to him have yet divulged his immediate plans.

PTI takes a look at possible candidates:

Rajiv Shukla: There is a possibility that BCCI rejigs the positions and asks current vice-president Shukla, a Congress MP in Rajya Sabha, to do the job for one year. Shukla wouldn’t certainly mind becoming a secretary as BCCI vice-presidents are more like rubber-stamp.

Ashish Shelar: Then there is Maharashtra BJP heavyweight Shelar, who is BCCI treasurer and big name in MCA administration. Shelar however is a consummate politician and BCCI secretaryship is a time consuming job, However, being an influential name, he could be in the mix.

Arun Dhumal: The IPL Chairman has requisite experience to run the board. He has been a treasurer and now heads cash-rich league. Dhumal and Shukla swapping designations could be the easiest way out but often BCCI throws up names that no one could envisages.

There is joint secretary Devajit ‘Lon’ Saikia, not the most popular name but a vital cog in current BCCI administration, who could also be elevated.

Whatever be the permutation and combinations at play, there will be one new candidate in the office-bearers’ list if Shah is officially ready to take the plunge.

Among the younger administrators, there is DDCA president Rohan Jaitley or former CAB president Avishek Dalmiya, whose names could come up for discussion. Other young state unit officials include Punjab’s Dilsher Khanna, Goa’s Vipul Phadke and Chattisgarh’s Prabhtej Bhatia, a former IPL Governing Council member Is there a chance that a completely new face gets the top job? “Obviously, it can happen as there are no hard and fast rules. But if you look at BCCI’s power structure, president, secretary and treasurer are three key posts,” said a former BCCI secretary.

“There are people who have been in the system and someone just coming and bypassing them normally doesn’t happen. But first, is Jay ready to go to the ICC? Even if he doesn’t go now, he can go anytime,” he added.

World Cup-winning former opener Gautam Gambhir was on Tuesday named head coach of the Indian cricket team by the BCCI, which hoped that he would bring “tenacity and leadership” to the position that was held with “remarkable success” by Rahul Dravid until recently. The 42-year-old left-hander, who played a key role in India’s 2011 ODI World Cup triumph, was the front-runner to replace Dravid whose tenure ended with the country’s triumph in the T20 World Cup in Barbados last month. Gambhir’s first assignment as India coach will be the of tour Sri Lanka for three T20Is and as many ODIs starting July 27.

“The Board would like to thank former Head Coach, Mr Rahul Dravid for his brilliant run with the team. Team India now embarks on a journey under a new coach – Mr Gautam Gambhir,” said BCCI President Roger Binny in an elaborate statement.

The Board stated that the Cricket Advisory Committee comprising Ashok Malhotra, Jatin Paranjpe and Sulakshana Naik on Tuesday unanimously recommended Gambhir.

“His appointment as Head Coach marks a new chapter for Indian cricket. His experience, dedication, and vision for the game make him the ideal candidate to guide our team forward.

“We are confident that under his leadership, Team India will continue to excel and make the nation proud,” Binny.

The sentiment was echoed by Bard secretary Jay Shah.

“The baton now passes on to Mr Gautam Gambhir who will don the role of Head Coach from the forthcoming series in Sri Lanka,” he said.

“Gambhir has been a fierce competitor and a brilliant strategist. We believe he will bring the same tenacity and leadership to his role as Head Coach. His transition to the role of Head Coach is a natural progression, and I believe he will bring out the best in our players.

Shah said he expects Gambhir to inspire and lead the team to new heights.

“His vision for the future of Indian cricket aligns perfectly with our goals, and we are excited about the journey ahead,” he added.

As a player, Gambhir led Kolkata Knight Riders to IPL titles in 2012 and 2014. He then proved his coaching credentials as the mentor of the KKR team that won the IPL title in 2024.

“It is an absolute honour to serve my tricolour, my people, my country,” said Gambhir in a BCCI statement.

“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Rahul Dravid and his team of support staff for their exemplary run with the team. I am honoured and excited to take on the role of Head Coach for Team India.

“I have always taken pride while donning the Indian jersey during my playing days and it is going to be no different when I take up this new role.

Gambhir said he looks forward to working closely with the BCCI, Head of Cricket VVS Laxman, the support staff, and, “most importantly, the players, as we work towards achieving success in the upcoming tournaments.”