The International Cricket Council (ICC) incurred losses of approximately USD 20 million (Rs 167 crore) from hosting the T20 World Cup 2024 games in the USA, as reported by PTI. This significant financial loss is expected to be a major topic of discussion during the ICC Annual Conference starting on Friday in Colombo. Although it is not part of the nine-point agenda of the Annual General Meeting (AGM), the issue will be addressed as a “post-event report.” The tournament, including the much-anticipated India-Pakistan match in New York, saw a substantial part of its schedule held in the USA.
Another significant topic for discussion during the AGM is the potential replacement of Greg Barclay as ICC chairman by BCCI secretary Jay Shah. According to the PTI report, ICC sources have expressed a keen interest in the timeline and process of Shah’s potential takeover.
“It is not about how but when, as he still has one year left as BCCI secretary before his cooling off period in the Indian board starts in 2025 as per the constitution. However, if he has to take over in 2025, then Barclay can’t complete his third term of two years from December 2024 to December 2026,” an ICC source explained.
There is speculation about potentially changing the ICC chairman’s term from three terms of two years each to two terms of three years, maintaining the cumulative six-year term.
If Barclay’s current term extends to three years, Shah could complete his six years as BCCI secretary and assume the ICC chairman role in 2025 during his cooling-off period from BCCI. This would allow him to serve as ICC chairman for three years and then return to the BCCI as president in 2028.
