Jay Shah features eleven times in ICC’s 45-second WTC final video; Journalists, fans react
New Delhi: The International Cricket Council (ICC) is facing criticism over a recent 45-second video celebrating South Africa’s World Test Championship (WTC) final victory over Australia at Lord’s for prominently featuring ICC chairman Jay Shah multiple times.
The video, shared on ICC’s official X account, was intended to mark South Africa’s historic victory. However, the montage included Jay Shah in at least 11 different frames, drawing widespread reactions across social media.
The clip opens with a wide-angle view of the Lord’s balcony, with Shah appearing as early as the second cut. Critics argued the video placed disproportionate focus on the ICC chairman rather than the players or key moments of the match.
“Hey @grok, how many runs and wickets did Jay Shah get in the WTC?” a journalist commented while sharing the video. Another wrote, “Didn’t realise the ICC final was Jay Shah vs Jay Shah. This video montage looks like it’s been compiled by the Jay Shah appreciation society (which has one member).”
Fans also chimed in. “Who said India didn’t play the final?” one user joked, while another remarked, “Blink and you’ll miss Pat Cummins. Jay Shah, on the other hand…” Cartoonist Satish Acharya, known for the sharp political commentary, wrote, “It’s funny how the ICC added more glimpses of Jay Shah than of the WTC-winning captain, Temba Bavuma.”
Following the backlash, the ICC reportedly deleted the original post and re-uploaded the same video — a move seen by many as an attempt to minimise visible negative comments.
“After the backslash against Jay Shah, the ICC deleted the previous tweet to get rid of negative tweets/comments against him and reshared the exact same video again,” wrote Mohammed Zubair, co-founder of the fact-checking website AltNews, on X.
Meanwhile, South Africa defeated Australia in the WTC final to break their long-standing “chokers” tag. Led by Temba Bavuma, the team clinched their first ICC title in over two decades, marking a milestone moment in the nation’s cricketing history.
hey @grok how many runs and wickets did Jay Shah get in the WTC? https://t.co/K2idUQ1aHu
— Andrew Fidel Fernando (@afidelf) June 16, 2025
Did you see the ICC video??
— Paul Dennett (@PaulDennett_) June 16, 2025
Meant to be celebrating the WTC final - but instead has 11 shots of Jay Shah in it.
It’s so weird! It’s hilarious! #WTC2025 pic.twitter.com/W0baOiZXdJ
It's funny how ICC added more glimpses of Jay Shah than the WTC winning skipper Bavuma in this video! 🥴https://t.co/aY4tHmffqN
— Satish Acharya (@satishacharya) June 17, 2025
After the backslash against Jay Shah, @ICC deleted the previous tweet to get rid of negative tweets/comments against him and reshared the exact same video again. 🤡 https://t.co/PQAd7fLdEd
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) June 17, 2025
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Chhattisgarh govt enforces austerity measures, restricts foreign travel and cuts convoy vehicles
Raipur (PTI): The Chhattisgarh government on Saturday rolled out a set of austerity measures, including restricted use of convoy vehicles for the chief minister, ministers and heads of state-run bodies, besides curbs on foreign travel at government expense.
The state has decided to implement the cost-saving steps with immediate effect to ensure efficient management of financial resources and discipline in public spending, said a directive issued by Finance Secretary Rohit Yadav.
The move follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal for austerity amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
The order said that only essential vehicles should be used in the convoys of the CM, ministers and office-bearers of corporations, boards and commissions, while ensuring restrained use of other government resources.
It also directed departments to take steps for a phased conversion of all official vehicles into electric vehicles in order to promote the use of EVs.
As part of fuel-saving measures, expenditure on petrol and diesel for government vehicles should be kept to a minimum, the directive said.
Vehicle pooling arrangements should also be implemented for officials of departments travelling to the same destination, it added.
The order further stated that foreign travel of government employees at state expenses will be completely prohibited except under extremely unavoidable circumstances. In such cases, prior approval of the CM will be mandatory.
To reduce administrative expenditure, departments have been instructed to hold physical meetings preferably only once a month and encourage virtual and online meetings. Regular departmental review meetings should compulsorily be conducted through video conferencing, it said.
The government also stressed the need for energy conservation in its offices, directing that all electrical equipment, including lights, fans, air-conditioners and computers, must be switched off after office hours.
The directive will remain effective till September 30 this year.
Amid the war involving the US, Israel and Iran, Modi has suggested reducing petrol and diesel consumption, using metro rail services in cities, carpooling, increased use of EVs, utilising railway services for parcel movement and working from home to conserve foreign exchange.
