Jay Shah: Onus on youngest ICC boss to play global body chief

He has pressing problem at hand in Champions Trophy

- GAUTAM BHATTACHARYYA

NEW DELHI: The Jay Shah era began at the International Cricket Council (ICC) from Sunday (December 1), albeit under somewhat challenging circumstances. At 36, the youngest ICC chairman has started off by making the right noises about focusing on Test cricket, globalisation of the sport and the women's game - though he has a pressing problem at hand in the ICC Champions Trophy.

Yes, the festering issue of India and Pakistan will be a thorn in the flesh of Shah - but it could also be his biggest chance to play the global body chief in a true sense of the term. Till a day before, he was the secretary of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the richest cricket body of the world and at odds with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and his identity as the son of India's powerful Home Minister Amit Shah defining his position almost by default.

Not anymore. Shah now has the onerous task of saving the Champions Trophy by meeting the PCB halfway on the issue of 'hybrid model' as there are no chances of India reversing its decision of crossing the border to play cricket. Informed sources say that the partnership model suggested by Pakistan, which effectively means that the contentious India-Pakistan matches be played at a neutral venue for next three years (read: Dubai), has met with the approval in principle of both parties.