The International Cricket Council has announced the global winners of the ICC Development Awards 2023, with six emerging nations honored for a range of groundbreaking initiatives and outstanding performances during the last calendar year.
Mexico, Oman, Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, Nepal and Scotland have received honors across six categories, with winners selected from a 21-nation shortlist by the ICC Development Awards Panel.
Launched in 2002, the ICC Development Awards casts light on the world-leading work being carried out in ICC Associate Member countries to grow the game globally, whether through innovative development programs or through inspiring efforts in the field of play.
Mexico Cricket Association were awarded the ICC Development Initiative of the Year prize for pioneering projects which included sending a team to the Street Child Cricket World Cup in India, and for their unique Cricket in Prisons program, in which they deliver cricket sessions in prisons across Mexico City to enhance the rehabilitation and transformation of the lives of inmates.
Oman Cricket claimed the 100% Cricket Female Cricket Initiative of the Year for the Cricket4Her program, which provides unique participation opportunities for women and girls and a valuable pathway through to competitive cricket.
The ICC Associate Member Men’s Performance of the Year prize was awarded to the Netherlands for their superb efforts in qualifying and competing at the Men’s Cricket World Cup in India, while the UAE won the Associate Member Women’s Performance of the Year award after an impressive unbeaten spell which saw them triumph at the Women’s Twenty20 World Cup 2024 Asia Qualifiers in Malaysia.
Rounding off the winners were Cricket Association of Nepal, who clinched the ICC Digital Fan Engagement of the Year following substantial growth on their social channels, and Cricket Scotland, who were victorious in the Cricket 4 Good Social Impact Initiative of the Year category, honoring their groundbreaking partnership with Breaking Boundaries, a local Scottish charity, to transform the lives of young, disadvantaged and underrepresented people in the country.
This year’s winners were identified from 21 regional awardees, announced back in April, and were determined by an esteemed panel comprising ICC Full Member executives, former international cricketers, and ICC global partners.
“The ICC Development Awards has a long-standing history of recognising the groundbreaking work being done by ICC Members to grow the game in emerging nations, William Glenwright, ICC General Manager – Development, said in a statement.
“Each year this project highlights some inspiring and remarkable stories and this year is no exception, with passion and innovation at the forefront of these successful initiatives.”
“We are delighted to unveil the list of 2023 global winners, and alongside the regional winners announced earlier in the year, we wish to congratulate everyone on their success. We look forward to seeing these programs continue to flourish in 2024 and beyond,” Glenwright concluded.
