Uganda The Big Winners As ICC Development Program Announces Regional Award Winners For 2005

Dubai, 2 March 2006. The ICC Development Program has announced the regional winners of the 2005 Annual Awards.

157 nominations were received from 41 different Members and Uganda were the big winners.

The African country, which has 25,000 youngsters involved in one of the biggest junior development programs of any Associate or Affiliate Members, collected four awards, the most for any Member.

Hong Kong and Papua New Guinea each picked up three awards while in the Americas region the nine different awards on offer were won by nine different Members.

Five Members – Germany, the Maldives, Mexico, Qatar and Tanzania – secured awards for the first time.

And of the ICC’s five regions – Africa, the Americas, Asia, East Asia-Pacific and Europe – Africa and the Americas had most award nominations with 44 each.

ICC Global Development Manager Matthew Kennedy congratulated all of the award winners on their achievements.

“Winning these awards is a fantastic tribute to the successful Members,” said Mr Kennedy.

“They will rightly take the plaudits but the whole process of deciding the winners has left the judges feeling immensely positive about the health of the game around the world.

“Since the ICC’s Development Program began in 1997 the number of ICC Members has more than doubled and the sheer volume and quality of nominations for these awards is a positive sign the game is continuing to grow.”

The Development Program Annual Awards, which began in 2002, promote excellence in cricket development and recognise exceptional performance and service to the game in the ICC’s Associate and Affiliate Member countries.

Nominees in 2005 came from a range of levels – country, club, association, team, school and individual – highlighting the positive impact cricket is making on the lives of players from culturally diverse communities.

The Regional Award Winners below will each receive an ICC plaque and be put forward for the ICC Global Award. The Global winner of the Best Junior Development Initiative Award will receive a Gemini Bowling Machine, provided by Flicx International.

The Global winners of all the other awards will receive either $500 or $1000 voucher for Kookaburra equipment, generously provided by Kookaburra.

These winners were selected by the relevant regional head office from the many entries received and will now be nominated for the global award in the relevant category. The list of global judges consists of Ehsan Mani (ICC President), Malcolm Gray (Past ICC President), Dr Ali Bacher (ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 Executive Director) and Roger Knight (MCC Chief Executive and Secretary).

The global awards will be announced on 31 March 2005.

Africa Region:

Best Overall Cricket Development Program: Uganda Cricket Association
Best Junior Cricket Initiative: Kampala Cricket League (Uganda)Best Women’s Cricket Initiative: Tanzania Cricket Association
Best Cricket Promotional Program: Uganda Cricket Association
Photo of the Year: Kampala Cricket League (Uganda)
Best Spirit of Cricket Initiative: Howzat Foundation for Cricket (Nigeria)
UNAIDS Award: Namibia Cricket Board
Volunteer of the Year: Fazal Sheriff (Botswana)
Lifetime Service Award: Laurie Pieters (Namibia)

Americas Region:

Best Overall Cricket Development Program: Bermuda Cricket Program
Best Junior Cricket Initiative: School Program in Parana (Brazil)
Best Women’s Cricket Initiative: Santiago de Cuba Program (Cuba)
Best Cricket Promotional Program: Celebration of Cricket (Canada)
Photo of the Year: Keep your Eye on the Ball (Cayman Islands)
Best Spirit of Cricket Initiative: All Chilean Team Tour
UNAIDS Award: U15 Tour of Couth Africa (Argentina)Volunteer of the Year: Richard Illingworth (Costa Rica)
Lifetime Service Award: Brian Gay (Mexico)

Asia Region:

Best Overall Cricket Development Program: HKCA Wellcome Cricket Development Program (Hong Kong)
Best Junior Cricket Initiative: HKCA Junior League (Hong Kong)
Best Women’s Cricket Initiative: HKCA Women’s League (Hong Kong)
Best Cricket Promotional Program: CCBM 2020 Cricket (Maldives)
Photo of the Year: Calvin Leung, Chinese Cricket League
Best Spirit of Cricket Initiative: Phuket International Cricket Sixes 2005 (Thailand)
Volunteer of the Year: Malik Nazar Mohammad (Qatar)
Lifetime Service Award: Dr Harjit Singh (Malaysia)

East Asia – Pacific Region:

Best Overall Cricket Development Program: Japan Cricket Association
Best Junior Cricket Initiative: Papua New Guinea (PNG) Cricket Board
Best Women’s Cricket Initiative: Made Erawan, Gianyar Cricket Association (Indonesia)
Best Cricket Promotional Program: PNG Cricket Board
Photo of the Year: Adam Pike, Trader Vics North Efate (Vanuatu)
Best Spirit of Cricket Initiative: Pakistan Earthquake Charity 8’s (Japan)
Volunteer of the Year: Mick Nades (PNG)
Lifetime Service Award: Bill Grundy (Vanuatu)

Europe Region:

Best Overall Cricket Development Program: Cricket Scotland
Best Junior Cricket Initiative: Finnish Cricket Association
Best Women’s Cricket Initiative: German Cricket Board
Best Cricket Promotional Program: Cricket Scotland / Lloyds TSB Scotland
Photo of the Year: Matthew Allen (Switzerland)
Best Spirit of Cricket Initiative: Isle of Man Cricket Coaches Association
Volunteer of the Year: Patrick Henderson (Switzerland)
Lifetime Service Award: Ted Vorzanger (Belgium)

For further information, please contact:

Brian Murgatroyd
ICC Media Manager
Tel: +971 4 368 8088, x 112
Mobile: +971 50 640 2534
Email: brian.murgatroyd@icc-cricket.com
http://www.icc-cricket.com/

Kate Lindley
ICC Administration Officer – Development
Tel: +971 4 368 8309
Email: kate.lindley@icc-cricket.com