At the age of 57 a Man from India broke the shackle and became the first Asian origin and 3rd President of International Cricket Council with just $25,000 USD in ICC account. He not only broke the shackle in 1997 to top the ICC but also opened the sluice gate as the first step to make Cricket global and when he left in 2000 International Cricket Council was far richer by 64,000% more to $16 Million USD in account. His ultimate dream was to give continuity to his work by his successors and to take cricket to the doors of all five continents for developments starting with Africa.
In 2005, as a President of ACC - Asian Cricket Council, at the age of 65, this independent Continental Cricket Governing body with around 20 member countries he took the Historical Stride to join congener of Africa Continent ACA - Africa Cricket Association, for 2 Intercontinental Bodies to spread the Cricket Development through a treasured MOU under the trademark of AFRO-ASIA. That magnificent MOU remained active till 2009 and by then consequence to that project thousands and thousands of cricketers were born and multiplied due to strong commercial foundation and development structures, particularly in Africa.
Sadly he departed to eternal world in 2015 at the age of 75 and many projects remained unfinished.
His was Jagmohan Dalmiya of India.
It's an old Latin proverb " When God close the door; He always leaves a window open".
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Jay Shah, a 34 years old sharp Indian engineer with a B.Tech. Degree, belongs to an intense political family with humble business background, decided to take head-on dedicated sports administration starting from his own district and state. He came up gradually but very successfully and was one of the leaders of the team which constructed flourishingly the very ambitious, the biggest Cricket Stadium of the World in Gujarat, India in 2020 at the age of 31 years.
He was elected in the same year in the Board of the biggest national cricket sports body of the world BCCI and despite pandemic he and his efficient team managed to fly the flag of the BCCI commercially and performance based achievements on the top of the 105 Cricket playing nations of the world.
On 30th January 2021 at the age of only around 33 was elected and chosen as the youngest President of ACC - Asian Cricket Council, the biggest independent continental cricket body of the world, with 25 member countries including 5 Full members of ICC, the real power house of Asia Continent where millions of less fortunate children are beneficiaries in all aspects through Cricket Development directly under ACC aid and assistance.
Of course the pioneer of the scheme of joining two continents under AFRO-ASIA Cricket Project as Commercially feasible & Economically sustainable was born and came into effect under late Jagmohan Dalmiya in 2005 when he was 65 years old, as the President of ACC. Unfortunately the project did not give continuity post 2009, after his absence, mainly the due shifting of priorities by his successors.
However at present day cricket scenario, after more than 12 years, when someone with just 34 years age heading the same Organization which Jagmohan Dalmiya once headed, now is having such an extraordinary vision to revive the AFRO-ASIA Projects by making it Commercially viable, Financially feasible, Technically sustainable and morally attainable between Asian Cricket Council and Africa Cricket Association, deserves universal recognition for such initiative.
The sky is the limit for being the amplitude of 47 member countries in both continents and interestingly more than 570 million people are belong to Africa Cricket Association member countries and that will be the plain and simple compliments to global cricket body, under the stewardship of young Jay Shah and team at helm, based on the foundation of 3 "C"s - capacity, capability and confidence, hence become a very pleasant astonishment for all.
The pronouncement of Jay Shah on futuristic Afro-Asia project at ACA - AGM on 26th March 2022 is a small step towards Cricket-combo but definitely a gigantic leap to millions of children and cricket lovers of Africa who all are just waiting for the opportunity to embrace this beautiful game called Cricket.
Hope that newly elected management of ACA - Africa Cricket Association in collaboration with ACC - Asian Cricket Council once again make and shape the AFRO-ASIA dream into a reality.
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