Former Australian cricket coach John Buchanan has extended his congratulations to Jay Shah on his election as the next Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC). Buchanan emphasized the importance of Shah, who is currently the Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), in ensuring that all three formats of cricket are given equal importance.
Jay Shah was elected unopposed as the Independent Chair of the ICC on Tuesday, August 27, and will officially assume his role on December 1, 2024. He will succeed Greg Barclay, who chose not to seek a third term.
Reflecting on Shah’s new role as ICC Chairman, Buchanan highlighted one of the key challenges Shah will face: maintaining the relevance of all three formats of the game amidst the rising popularity of T20 and franchise leagues. Buchanan stated (as quoted by ANI):
“Congratulations to him. It is wonderful from BCCI’s point of view to have him there. Cricket needs his excellent decision-making at the ICC level. There has been talk of phasing out ODIs in the current era of T20Is, T10 tournaments, and other such competitions. These formats are enticing quality players to prioritize club over country, which I believe is not healthy. Representing your country is the highest honor, and I hope Shah, along with the ICC administration, will work towards making all three formats equally important.”
Interestingly, in an official statement issued by the BCCI following his appointment, Shah acknowledged the natural excitement of the T20 format but reaffirmed that Test cricket remains the foundation of the sport.
“This Series Will Test Everyone Physically and Mentally” – Buchanan on Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Buchanan also shared his insights on the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, scheduled to take place in Australia from November 22 to January 7. The 71-year-old believes that the series will be a true test of both physical and mental endurance, with the winning team being the one that excels in these areas.
“All the Tests are packed into a seven-week period, with five matches in total. The Australian team has one or two players under 30, while India has three or four. It’s essentially a battle of the veterans. This series will challenge everyone both physically and mentally, and whoever comes out stronger in these aspects will be the victor,” Buchanan remarked.
As part of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India will face Australia in five Tests, starting in Perth, followed by matches in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.