Jay Shah, Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), made a high-profile appearance in Oakland on Sunday, attending the Major League Cricket (MLC) match between the San Francisco Unicorns and MI New York at the Oakland Coliseum.
Shah’s visit comes as part of a broader trip to the United States, where he is reportedly meeting with officials from the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and other stakeholders involved in preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Cricket is set to return to the Olympic Games for the first time in over a century at LA28, and the ICC has been actively working to ensure the sport’s successful integration into the Olympic program.
While no official statement was released by the ICC regarding Shah’s presence in Oakland, he attended the high-profile MLC fixture — being shown on the broadcast and introduced in the stadium — and engaged in conversations with local cricket officials and franchise representatives. His appearance is being seen as both a symbolic and strategic gesture—acknowledging MLC’s role in expanding the game in the U.S. market, and aligning with the ICC’s Olympic ambitions.
The San Francisco Unicorns-MI New York matchup was one of the most anticipated contests of the MLC season. Shah’s presence added further weight to an already high-stakes encounter, which saw San Francisco ultimately triumph behind Xavier Bartlett’s undefeated half century, and which featured other international stars and the Unicorns’ energetic local following.
Shah has made Olympic inclusion a top priority during his tenure as ICC Chair, and the U.S.—especially the LA market—is central to cricket’s global expansion strategy. With MLC entering its second season and LA28 just three years away, the timing of this visit underscores the ICC’s increasing investment in American cricket infrastructure and visibility.
As cricket gears up for its Olympic return, all eyes will be on how the sport leverages the momentum of MLC and the global spotlight of the Games to entrench itself in the American mainstream. Jay Shah’s weekend in Oakland is likely a key step in that journey.
