Greg Barclay, the current chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), announced on Tuesday that he will not seek a third term, with his tenure set to end on November 30. This decision has sparked speculation about BCCI secretary Jay Shah's potential future in the sport's global governing body.

Whether Shah will enter the race for the ICC chairman's position will be determined by August 27, the deadline for filing nominations. The ICC chairman's role allows for up to three two-year terms, and Barclay, a New Zealand attorney, has already completed four years in the role.

"ICC Chair Greg Barclay confirmed to the Board that he will not stand for a third term and will step down from the post when his current tenure finishes at the end of November," the ICC said in a statement. Barclay was first appointed as the Independent ICC Chair in November 2020 and re-elected in 2022.

According to ICC rules, the chairman's election requires a simple majority of nine out of 16 votes (51%) to win. Previously, a two-thirds majority was needed to secure the position. Current ICC directors must submit their nominations for the next chairman by August 27, 2024. If there is more than one candidate, an election will be held, with the new chair’s term starting on December 1, 2024.

Jay Shah is considered one of the most influential figures within the ICC boardroom and currently heads the powerful Finance and Commercial Affairs (F&CA) sub-committee. Shah, who enjoys strong relationships with many of the 16 voting members, still has a year left as BCCI secretary before entering a mandatory three-year cooling-off period in October 2025.

According to the BCCI constitution, approved by the Supreme Court, an office bearer can serve for six years before needing to undergo a cooling-off period of three years. In total, a person can serve up to 18 years—nine years in a state association and nine in the BCCI.

If Shah decides to pursue the ICC chairman role while still serving as BCCI secretary, he would retain four years in the BCCI after his term with the ICC. At just 35 years old, Shah could become the youngest chairman in ICC history.

Several Indians, including Jagmohan Dalmiya, Sharad Pawar, N. Srinivasan, and Shashank Manohar, have previously held the ICC chairman position.