‘He's the one who implemented…’ - Mithali Raj lauds Jay Shah's contribution to women's cricket, praises initiatives for players' welfare

Former India captain Mithali Raj has praised ICC Chairman Jay Shah for his efforts towards the growth of women's cricket, highlighting several initiatives introduced under his leadership that have helped strengthen the women's game globally.

Speaking in an interview, Mithali reflected on how women's cricket has evolved over the years and pointed out that modern-day cricketers now have far greater support than previous generations.

"They [women athletes] had to choose between family and ambition. They have [had] to choose between motherhood and continuing to be an elite athlete. Now, they don't have to make that choice," Mithali said in an exclusive conversation with Wisden.

Since Jay Shah took over as ICC Chairman in December 2024, several key reforms have been introduced to further develop women's cricket. Among the major decisions has been the expansion of the ICC Women's Championship from 10 to 11 teams for the 2025-29 cycle, providing another nation with a pathway to qualify for the Women's Cricket World Cup.

Before becoming ICC Chairman, Shah had already overseen several landmark initiatives during his tenure as BCCI secretary. These included the launch of the Women's Premier League (WPL) in 2023 and the implementation of equal match fees for India's men's and women's international cricketers.

Reflecting on those developments, Mithali praised Shah's long-term vision and commitment to improving opportunities for women in cricket.

"So, I think through this, I really like the fact that he (Jay Shah) had the vision. He's invested in the growth of women's cricket through a very meaningful initiative, and it is so important and necessary as well. Now, they don't necessarily have to be in a position to make a choice,” she continued.

The ICC has also introduced the 'Return to Play Post-Pregnancy Guidelines', aimed at helping female cricketers resume their careers after pregnancy through structured support. She also praised these kind of initiatives.

ICC launches post-pregnancy guidelines for female cricketers

"You know, being a mother, you still can be an elite athlete and that's a wonderful initiative. So first, as a former secretary, he's the one who implemented the Women's Premier League. He's the one who got pay equity for cricketers in India. And then when he moved to ICC as chair, he's the one who's got the prize money up for the ODI World Cup last year.”

"I genuinely believe that when the head of the family or the head of the administration values the welfare of women cricketers and takes these initiatives, it shows that he's really committed to the growth of women's cricket. And we are lucky to have him, you know, being the ICC chair and seeing so many things being advocated and seeing the result of it as well," she concluded.

Mithali's comments come at a time when women's cricket continues to witness significant growth across the globe.