ICC Faces Backlash Over Jay Shah’s Controversial Post

Veteran Australian journalist Malcolm Conn has sharply criticized the International Cricket Council (ICC) for playing double standards in managing political sentiments within cricket, following a controversy surrounding a provocative social media post by ICC Chairman Jay Shah.

Jay Shah, who also serves as the Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), recently shared a message on Instagram praising the Indian army amid rising tensions with Pakistan. In the post, he commended the military’s bravery and encouraged citizens to honor them.

Although the post was later deleted, it sparked widespread international criticism due to Shah’s position as the head of an institution expected to remain politically neutral.

Conn, former chief cricket writer for The Sydney Morning Herald, highlighted what he sees as a contradiction in how the ICC enforces its rules. He referenced Australian batsman Usman Khawaja, who had planned to wear shoes bearing human rights slogans such as “Freedom is a human right” and “All lives are equal” during a Test series against Pakistan in December 2023. Khawaja was instructed that this would violate ICC norms and ultimately wore a plain black armband instead. The ICC then issued him a formal warning, describing the gesture as a personal political message.

Taking to Twitter, Conn questioned why Shah’s openly nationalist post supporting India’s military was not subjected to similar scrutiny. He said, “The ICC admonished Khawaja for a gesture of peace, and yet allowed Shah, who was strongly linked with India’s political leadership, to say plainly nationalist things without taking any action against him.”

This controversy has brought to light concerns regarding the ICC’s impartiality, with many critics arguing that the organization selectively applies its code of conduct depending on the individuals involved. The debate has intensified calls for the ICC to clearly define its stance on political messages and ensure fairness in its enforcement policies.