ICC chairman Jay Shah was recently honoured with the Outstanding Achievement Award for contributions to Indian cricket at CNN-News18’s Indian of the Year ceremony in New Delhi. The award recognised Shah’s decisions and long-term impact on Indian cricket, especially women’s cricket, during his tenure as BCCI Secretary from October 2019 to December 2024.
Before taking charge as ICC Chairman in December 2024, Shah played a crucial role in guiding modern Indian cricket. His stint as BCCI Secretary saw structural reforms, historic policies, and major commercial feats. The most notable among them were the implementation of pay parity for men and women cricketers, the launch of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), and the completion of a massive INR 50,000 crore media rights deal.
The award recognizes these contributions, many of which now serve as a foundation for India’s recent on-field successes, including the Indian women’s team winning the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025.
While receiving the award, Shah dedicated the honour to Indian women’s cricket and the players who inspired these reforms. With Harmanpreet Kaur, Mithali Raj, and Jhulan Goswami present at the event. He applauded the women’s team for raising performance standards across the board.
Shah then reflected on his five-year stint as BCCI Secretary. He stated that the decisions that changed Indian cricket began with strengthening the domestic cricket structure. Under his tenure, grassroots and state-level cricket received improved facilities and better financial support, contributing to stronger talent pipelines.
A major part of his speech was the construction of the new National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. The state-of-the-art facility spans over 20 lakh square feet and includes pitches modelled after surfaces in major cricketing nations like Australia, South Africa, and England. Shah noted that these facilities have enhanced India’s overseas performances, giving players more realistic training environments.
However, Shah emphasised that two decisions that remain closest to his heart are pay parity and the WPL. These decisions, he said, were essential steps toward giving women cricketers the recognition and platform they deserved. The success of WPL has already begun to show its results, with India’s women now matching global standards and enjoying wider professional opportunities.
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