New Delhi, July 20 (H.S.): The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled the winners of the 2024 ICC Development Awards, which recognize innovative programs enhancing cricket’s growth globally, particularly in emerging nations. Established in 2002, these awards now feature seven categories, including a new one for the ICC X Rexona criiio Cricket Festival of the Year.
Cricket Namibia has been honored with the ICC Development Initiative of the Year award for its Ashburton Kwata Mini-Cricket Programme, a key grassroots initiative integrated into public school physical education across 14 regions, impacting tens of thousands of students. The inaugural ICC 100% Cricket Female Cricket Initiative of the Year award is jointly awarded to the Bhutan Cricket Council Board for its “Inter-School Girls’ Competition,” which promotes female cricket participation among schoolgirls, and the Vanuatu Cricket Association for its “Picking Wickets” program, which combines coaching with seasonal fruit-picking jobs in Australia.
USA Cricket received the ICC Associate Member Men’s Team Performance of the Year award for a standout year including their qualification for the Super Eight stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies, where notable victories included one against Pakistan. Cricket Scotland won the ICC Associate Member Women’s Team Performance of the Year for achieving qualification for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 for the first time, with Captain Kathryn Bryce being named Player of the Tournament at the Qualifiers.
The Cricket Association of Nepal has been recognized with the ICC Digital Fan Engagement of the Year award due to its successful social media expansion, achieving impressive audience growth and engagement. Persatuan Cricket Indonesia received the ICC Cricket 4 Good Social Impact Initiative of the Year for its “Cricket for Confidence” campaign, empowering schoolgirls in Indonesia’s rural regions through cricket, impacting over 300 girls in five provinces. Finally, Tanzania Cricket Association won the ICC criiio Cricket Festival of the Year for their event in Dar es Salaam that included 120 women participating in the “From kitchen to crease” program, celebrating cricket and community.
ICC Chairman Jay Shah expressed delight in announcing the winners, emphasizing their deserving recognition for contributing to cricket’s growth in emerging nations. He highlighted the importance of showcasing the inspiring stories and innovations behind these successful initiatives, hoping to see them flourish in the coming years.
The judging panel for the 2024 awards included notable figures from various cricketing organizations and backgrounds, underscoring the global nature of this recognition. The complete list of winners includes:
– ICC Development Initiative of the Year: Cricket Namibia
– 100% Cricket Female Initiative of the Year: Bhutan Cricket Council Board and Vanuatu Cricket Association
– ICC Associate Member Men’s Team Performance of the Year: USA Cricket
– ICC Associate Member Women’s Team Performance of the Year: Cricket Scotland
– ICC Digital Fan Engagement of the Year: Cricket Association of Nepal
– ICC Cricket 4 Good Social Impact Initiative of the Year: Persatuan Cricket Indonesia
– ICC criiio Cricket Festival of the Year with Rexona: Tanzania Cricket Association
These awards highlight the commitment and impact of cricket development efforts across the world, marking a significant milestone in the sport’s expansion and outreach.
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
