ICC Criticised for Promoting Chairman Jay Shah’s Personal Recognition

KARACHI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) is being criticised after it shared a post celebrating its chairman Jay Shah’s inclusion in a list of the most powerful Indians.

The governing body revealed that Shah climbed to 22nd place in the IE100 rankings for 2026. While the council appeared to present the recognition as a proud milestone, the move has further fueled the ongoing Jay Shah controversy, with many fans questioning whether such updates belong on an official cricket platform.

"It is said that power and responsibility go hand-in-hand. This recognition is well-deserved and one that will definitely motivate our chairman [Jay Shah] to strive harder towards loftier goals for the Sport," the ICC wrote.

Fans Question ICC’s Priorities

The post quickly drew negative reactions, with cricket followers arguing that ICC platforms should focus strictly on cricket-related updates rather than personal milestones.

Several users pointed out that such posts blur the line between official communication and personal promotion, intensifying ICC criticism over the organisation’s content strategy.

"Shame on ICC for [stooping] this low. They are acting as a Social Media PR for Jay Shah... Ridiculous," a cricket enthusiast bearing the username DoctorofCricket wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Another fan echoed similar sentiments, urging the ICC to maintain neutrality and avoid amplifying personal achievements.

"Shocking that [ICC] is now playing personal PR agent for Chairman Jay Shah breathlessly reporting his climb up some Indian power list," an individual bearing the username @DrAwab wrote on X.

"Shouldn't a global governing body stay away from hyping its own chairman's personal achievements?

"Let independent media do cheerleading. Focus on cricket, not cult of personality. This is embarrassing."

Past Criticism Resurfaces

This is not the first time the ICC and its chairman have come under scrutiny. During last year’s World Test Championship final between Australia and South Africa, fans had raised concerns over Shah’s repeated appearances in the promotional content.

In a 45-second highlights video, Shah was shown 11 times, from his arrival at the venue to presenting the ICC Test Mace during the closing ceremony. The clip received heavy backlash online and was eventually taken down.