Cricket is slowly finding its feet in Mexico and the International Cricket Council Development Award win on the recognition of the cricket project involving prisoners will surely drive the growth of the game in the Latin American country in the near future.
“ICC Development Initiative of the Year” award acknowledges the outstanding development initiative delivered by an Associate Member, either through a physical participation program or a digitally delivered game development initiative.
And this year, Mexico Cricket Association has won this award after they delivered a range of leading development programs which left a significantly positive impact on Mexican society throughout 2023.
“It is a huge honor to be recognized with an ICC Development Award and it means the world to each of us on a regional and national level,” Ben Owen, Chairman of Mexico Cricket, said in a statement.
“It is first and foremost a truly meaningful recognition at the highest level, that our volunteers who have put in so many hours are both valued and respected. It also shows our stakeholders, such as our National Sports Ministry, as well as current and future sponsors that cricket in Mexico is indeed on a huge growth trend and this recognition will accelerate conversations we are already having on multiple levels,” he added.
“Lastly, it highlights the power of cricket as a force for social change as well as raising our profile enormously which should open even more doors in the future,” Owen concluded.
Mexico Cricket Association has been praised for a unique initiative as they organized an innovative program titled “Cricket in Prisons Program” in partnership with the country’s National Commission of Physical Culture and Sport (CONADE).
The target of this project was to promote values of teamwork and respect; the outcome has defied expectations.
The program was launched in Mexico City and now sees hundreds of male and female participants take part in cricket clinics every week.
Prisoners who are participating in this project are even saying the sport has become a form of therapy for them.
According to a report, such initiatives not only improve the daily lives of prisoners but also teach them important values of life, create work opportunities for them and will ultimately contribute to their effective reintegration into society.
"One prisoner shared that she likes to play cricket because it serves as therapy for her," Mexico Cricket Association secretary Craig White said.
"Another inmate said she too wants to keep playing cricket after being released and would like to teach the sport to other women."
While it helped the inmates to adapt to their surroundings, the secretariat believed it taught them a much-needed lesson as well.
"What (the secretariat) likes about cricket and why they chose it for inclusion in prisons is how the decision of the umpire is always accepted and they believe this concept can help prisoners to respect rules," added White.
Hundreds of inmates play modified versions of the game weekly and Mexico Cricket Association is planning a national prison competition later this year featuring teams from each of the 32 states.
Another initiative which was also notable for Mexico was their successful participation in the Street Child World Cup in 2023.
A total of 19 teams from countries across four continents competed in this tournament which was held in Chennai, India.
The Mexico Cricket Association’s mission is to introduce, promote, and establish cricket in all Mexican States by 2030.
And with such a brilliant initiative like “Cricket in Prisons Program” and recognition by ICC through winning the prestigious award, their mission to make cricket popular in the Latin American country is on track.
