Jay Shah's Controversial Presence at T20I Sparks Social Media Debate

The recent T20I match between India and Afghanistan saw ICC chairman Jay Shah in attendance, but his presence sparked a social media uproar due to claims regarding seating arrangements. As India secured a 2-0 lead in the series, allegations surfaced that Shah requested an ACB member to vacate his seat for security purposes. However, these claims have been clarified as misunderstandings of standard VIP protocols. The final match is scheduled for September 17, raising further interest in the ongoing series.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 16, 2026, 20:15 IST

India Clinches T20I Series Against Afghanistan

On September 15, the chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), Jay Shah, attended the second T20I of the three-match series against Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. The Indian team, captained by Shreyas Iyer, secured the series with a convincing seven-wicket victory, making it 2-0.

Chasing a target of 160 runs, openers Sanju Samson (57) and Abhishek Sharma (39) put together an impressive 89-run partnership. Following them, Ishan Kishan (38*) and Tilak Varma (15*) added an unbeaten 60-run partnership for the fourth wicket, allowing India to reach the target with 31 balls remaining.

Earlier in the match, Afghanistan was restricted to 159/8 in their 20 overs, thanks to Nitish Kumar Reddy's three wickets and contributions from Arshdeep Singh (2/35), Jasprit Bumrah (1/25), Ravi Bishnoi (1/32), and Axar Patel (1/28).

Jay Shah's Attendance Draws Attention

As India clinched the series, Jay Shah's presence in the VIP section became a focal point of controversy on social media, following unverified claims about the seating arrangements.

During the match, Shah was seated with Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) president Rohan Jaitley and Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) CEO Mirwais Ashraf. However, clips circulated online that suggested a different narrative.

One user on X (formerly Twitter) shared a video alleging that Shah requested an ACB member to vacate his seat for his security guard, which ignited a wave of accusations.

Clarifying the Viral Claims

The assertion that Jay Shah demanded an ACB member to relinquish his seat for security purposes is unfounded and stems from a misunderstanding of standard security protocols in a VIP setting.

In reality, the ACB CEO, Naseeb Khan, was asked by Shah to shift to an adjacent seat to accommodate BCCI President Mithun Manhas, ensuring proper seating arrangements for visiting dignitaries.

Mithun Manhas, who assumed the BCCI presidency in September 2025, was seated alongside other important figures, including DDCA President Rohan Jaitley and ACB chairman, making the seating adjustment a routine matter.

Final T20I Scheduled

The final match of the T20I series between India and Afghanistan is set to take place at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on September 17.