ICC Youngest Chairman, Jay Shah Honored with Icon of Excellence Award at FILA 2025

Jay Shah, the chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), has been honored with the prestigious Icon of Excellence award at the 14th Edition of the Forbes India Leadership Awards (FILA 2025). This award recognizes his outstanding contributions to cricket administration, his efforts to bring new ideas into the game, and his role in making cricket more inclusive and competitive worldwide.

Jay Shah, the Youngest Chairman of the ICC

At just 36 years old, Jay Shah became the youngest chairman of the ICC in history. He has worked hard to make cricket more popular across the world, ensuring its financial stability and introducing changes that benefit players, teams and fans. His smart decision-making and modern approach have helped cricket grow to new heights.

Jay Shah’s Journey from BCCI to ICC

Jay Shah started his career in cricket administration as the Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). During his time at BCCI, he introduced several big reforms, including:

• Launching the Women’s Premier League (IPL), which boosted women’s cricket.
• Implementing pay parity, ensuring equal match fees for men and women cricketers.
• Improving domestic cricket infrastructure in India.
• Modernizing the National Cricket Academy (NCA) to provide world-class training for players.

His leadership and dedication helped Indian cricket grow, paving the way for his appointment as ICC chairman. Now, he is focused on making cricket more popular globally and building strong international partnerships.

Icon of Excellence Award Winner

Jay Shah received the Icon of Excellence Award at a grand event held at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai. The award was presented by Harsh Mariwala, chairman of Marico Limited, and KVS Manian, MD & CEO of Federal Bank. Many important leaders from different industries attended the event, celebrating individuals who have made a big impact in their fields.

Major Reforms Under Jay Shah’s Leadership

As a leader, Jay Shah has introduced many important reforms to make cricket better, fairer and more inclusive. Some of his biggest achievements include:

Equal Pay for Men and Women Cricketers

One of his most praised decisions was introducing pay parity in cricket, ensuring that female cricketers earn the same match fees as male cricketers. This was a huge step towards equality in the sport.

Launch of the Women’s Premier League (WPL)

The Women’s Premier League was successfully launched under his leadership, giving female cricketers a bigger stage to showcase their talent. This league has helped women’s cricket grow and gain more attention worldwide.

National Cricket Academy’s Centre of Excellence

He established the Centre of Excellence at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), which provides top-level training and facilities to young prayers, helping them develop their skills and prepare for international cricket.

Pension Benefits for Former Players

Jay Shah also increased the monthly pensions for former players, recognizing their contributions to the sport and ensuring their financial security after retirement.

Jay Shah, A Visionary Leader in Cricket

Jay Shah’s leadership has played a big role in shaping modern cricket. His innovative ideas, commitment to fairness and focus on global expansion continue to make cricket more exciting and competitive. By introducing key reforms and supporting both men’s and women’s cricket, he is ensuring a bright future for the support.

Summary of the News

Category	Details
Award	Icon of Excellence Award (Forbes India Leadership Award 2025)
Recipient	Jay Shah (Chairman of ICC)
Reason for Award	Contributions to cricket administration, innovation and inclusivity
Youngest ICC Chairman	Became ICC chairman at 36 years old
Key Achievements	Expanded cricket globally Ensured financial stability Introduced reforms benefiting players, stakeholders and fans
Journey from BCCI to ICC	Served as BCCI Secretary Launched Women’s Premier League (WPL) Implemented pay parity for men and women cricketers Strengthened domestic cricket infrastructure Modernized National Cricket Academy (NCA)
Award Ceremony	Held at Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai
Presented By	Harsh Mariwala (Chairman, Marico Limited) KVS Manian (MD 7 CEO, Federal Bank)
Major Reforms Under Leadership	Equal pay for men and women cricketers Successful launch of WPL National Cricket Academy’s Centre of Excellence Increased pensions for former players
Impact on Cricket	Strengthened the game’s structure, inclusivity and sustainability