Sunil Gavaskar hails Jay Shah's contributions to Indian Cricket and slams critics' 'political agenda'

Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has lashed out at the critics of BCCI secretary Jay Shah, accusing the critics of undermining his contributions to Indian cricket due to their "political agenda" after the Men in Blue clinched the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

Slamming the critics, the former Indian skipper has pointed out Shah's contributions to Indian cricket, citing initiatives like the introduction of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) and the establishment of equal pay for both men's and women's teams.

Sunil Gavaskar slams critics of BCCI secretary Jay Shah over political agenda

Notably, Shah kicked off his journey in cricket administration with the Gujarat Cricket Association and then joined the BCCI in 2015 before being elected as the board secretary in 2019. Despite his several notable achievements, the BCCI secretary faces unwarranted criticism primarily because he is the son of India’s home minister, Amit Shah.

Meanwhile, Gavaskar expressed admiration for the current BCCI administration, describing their governance as outstanding in promoting Indian cricket on a global scale. He also hailed the overall impact of Shah's initiatives and said that he deserves recognition and appreciation for his work.

However, the legendary cricketer lamented the tendency of some people to focus more on Shah's familial ties than his contributions to the game. The commentator urged critics to acknowledge Shah's efforts as the BCCI secretary without looking into his political association.

Sunil Gavaskar told India Today: “Look, I think the quality of governance has always been such that they’ve aimed to promote Indian cricket. There will always be the occasional individual who might be a bit disappointing. But I think what the current leadership has done is quite outstanding. Many people criticize Jay Shah, focusing on his father’s political position rather than his contributions.”

Gavaskar further noted, “However, what Jay Shah has achieved—like bringing in the Women’s Premier League, ensuring equal pay for the Women’s team as the Men’s, increasing fees for IPL players, and significantly boosting incentives—is commendable. Unfortunately, some refuse to give him credit due to a political agenda.”

Administration and financial management should be left to the experts: Sunil Gavaskar

The former Indian captain also believes that individuals who possess a genuine passion for cricket often make more substantial contributions to Indian cricket than those who have played the game professionally. He argued that former players bring invaluable insights and experiences, but sometimes they are not good in the administration.

Furthermore, Gavaskar noted that cricket enthusiasts, who may not have played the game at the highest level but are deeply committed to the sport, can offer innovative ideas and solutions, and they are more likely to embrace changes that benefit the current generation of players and fans.

He highlighted that such a person's forward-thinking approach to cricket administration is good for the game. He signed off by saying, “So, I believe that while former cricketers are invaluable for addressing technical issues—like game rules and improving the Ranji Trophy’s competitiveness—the administration and financial management should be left to the experts.”