Jay Shah became the Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2024. He became the youngest person ever to lead the organisation. Since taking over, he has made big changes that have helped cricket grow.
The ICC expects to make 3.2 billion dollars from 2024 to 2027. A big part of this money comes from the 2026 T20 World Cup. This will bring in 638.4 million dollars from just 15 matches. The ICC also signed a massive TV and media rights deal worth over 1.5 billion dollars for 2025 to 2027. All of this money makes India the clear financial leader in world cricket.
The ICC introduced equal match fees for men and women in ICC events. This was a historic breakthrough. The 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup saw its total prize pool raised to 13.88 million dollars. This represented a 297 per cent increase over the previous edition. It surpassed even the 2023 Men’s World Cup prize pool. The Women’s Premier League was launched and expanded. The ICC Women’s Championship was expanded from 10 to 11 teams.
Shah has also focused on global expansion and grassroots development. A major milestone was achieved when cricket was officially included in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. This marked the sport’s return to the Olympic programme for the first time since 1900. The ICC inaugurated the new TCA Arena in Tanzania. He increased the annual funding for Associate Members by 35 per cent. This has enabled more countries to develop cricket programmes and facilities.
Jay Shah Backs Oman Cricket and Calls for More International Matches in the Country
ICC Chairman Jay Shah has praised the progress made by Oman Cricket. He also expressed support for further investment in the country’s cricket infrastructure. Shah stated that Oman has the potential to host more international cricket matches in the future.
Shah made these remarks during a private visit to Oman. On Thursday, he visited the Oman Cricket headquarters in Muscat. He was briefed by OC President Pankaj Khimji and other board officials on the organisation’s development plans. The officials present included Vice-President Paul Sheridan, Treasurer Alkesh Joshi, Secretary Madhu Jesrani, and chief development officer Duleep Mendis.
Shah toured the facilities and met with the national squad preparing for the Asian Games. He also met the under-19 boys, women’s, and under-19 girls’ teams. He later held discussions with the OC board about the development of cricket in Oman and opportunities to host international and regional cricket.
Shah recalled Oman Cricket’s contribution during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, Oman and the UAE stepped in to host matches after the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup was moved from India. Shah praised the country’s infrastructure and its ability to stage international cricket at short notice. He said Oman did a fantastic job during that period.
Shah also spoke about the next steps for Oman Cricket. He stated that the current infrastructure is very good. However, he noted that permanent infrastructure is needed if the country wants to host more major international fixtures. He indicated that the ICC could explore ways to support Oman’s infrastructure plans. He expressed confidence that permanent facilities, including spectator stands, would be developed.
The possibility of Oman hosting more bilateral cricket was also discussed. Shah mentioned an upcoming Future Tours Programme bilateral workshop in Dubai later this month. At that workshop, member boards can explore potential fixtures. While bilateral series remain primarily a matter between individual boards, Shah said the ICC could assist where required. He also identified opportunities for Oman to host training camps for teams from the Gulf. environment for both senior and junior players.
Senior board official Alkesh Joshi termed the visit of Shah as historic. He said that Oman Cricket was honoured by the visit. Joshi stated that the visit demonstrates the ICC’s commitment towards the development of Associate nations. He added that Shah was impressed by the growth of the game among local Omanis.
Shah congratulated the all-Omani team that will make their historic debut at the forthcoming Asian Games in Japan. Joshi also said that Shah applauded the development programme with women’s cricket and the huge jump in rankings. He expressed determination to make further progress in raising the level of women’s cricket.
FAQs
Q. What did Jay Shah praise about Oman Cricket?
A. Jay Shah praised its progress, infrastructure, and financial stability.
Q. When did Oman help host the T20 World Cup?
A. Oman helped host matches during the 2021 T20 World Cup.
Q. What does Oman need to host more major matches?
A. Oman needs more permanent infrastructure and spectator stands.
Q. Is Oman Cricket debt-free?
A. Yes, Oman Cricket was described as debt-free.
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