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The Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah was on Saturday unanimously elected as the President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). Shah replaces Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief Najmul Hasan Papon.

"The ACC is delighted to announce that Mr. Jay Shah, Hon. Secretary, BCCI has been appointed as its new President. Mr. Shah is the youngest person ever to be appointed to the office. We look forward to working under his energetic and dynamic leadership to take cricket in Asia to new heights!"

Shah, who took over as the BCCI honorary secretary in October 2019, said the resumption of age-group and women's tournaments amid the pandemic remains a challenge to be met.

"The pandemic has posed enormous challenges but history has shown that innovation often arises in periods of adversity and we must adapt and innovate to stay ahead," Shah said. "While I have noticed that most Boards have again started their cricketing operations with their senior team, the challenge still remains with women's cricket and age-group cricket. The ACC has done pioneering work in both women's cricket and age-group with the multiple tournaments it conducts across the year and we must build on this."

BCCI Secretary Jay in his letter to the state associations, accessed by ANI, informed them that the decision was taken with an eye on the coronavirus pandemic and the feedback of the state bodies.

"The pandemic has tested each and every one of us and there is no life that has remained untouched by it, and while it has been difficult, your support has meant that we have been able to resume both domestic and international cricket in the men's category.