Africa's triple joy as global winners of ICC Development Program Annual Awards announced

Africa had three reasons to celebrate when the global winners of the ICC Development Program Annual Awards 2005 were announced today.

The region collected three of the nine awards including the Best Overall Cricket Development Program* for the Uganda Cricket Association, whose comprehensive work covered all areas of the game.

One of the judging panel for the Awards was ICC President Ehsan Mani and he was full of praise for all the winners, as well as the nominees.

"This whole process has once again shown the outstanding work being done in the development of cricket around the world," said Mr. Mani.

"It was immensely difficult to select the winners but those lucky enough to have been chosen reflect the contributions they have made to our wonderful worldwide sport.

"Everyone involved, winners and those not chosen, deserve immense credit for their efforts," he added.

Uganda's winning package included a schools development program that almost tripled the number of establishments playing the game to 50, through to a thriving club structure and improving junior representative sides.

The Tanzanian Cricket Association took the Award for the Best Women's Cricket Initiative* with a program that focused on not only the development of players but also coach and umpire training and the holding of an annual tournament.

And completing the African hat-trick was the Namibia Cricket Board, which collected the UNAIDS Award* for their work including a partnership with the Christina Swart-Opperman - AIDS Orphan Trust.

Europe was represented by Cricket Scotland/Lloyds TSB Scotland, who narrowly missed out on the Best Overall Development Program award, as they won the Best Cricket Promotional Award* for the second year running.

The judges felt the administration within Cricket Scotland had worked tirelessly to build on and develop all aspects of their promotional campaign, including renewing sponsorship deals and building relationships with local media to increase coverage of local cricket within Scotland.

China Cricket Association - Photo of the Year © ICC

Asia were represented among the Award winners in two categories. The Photo of the Year* was awarded to the China Cricket Association for their picture showing school children playing cricket on the Great Wall of China while the Best Spirit of Cricket Initiative Award* was picked up by the Phuket Cricket Union (Thailand).

That latter Award was a closely fought contest between the eventual winners and the Japan Cricket Association and expatriates together staging an eight-a-side tournament to help the victims of the Pakistan earthquake

The Phuket Cricket Union eventually secured the judges' decision for their tournament which raised funds and increased tourism in an area devastated by the Tsunami in 2004.

The Best Junior Cricket Initiative+ was snapped up by East Asia-Pacific Member Papua New Guinea for their schools program which not only attracted the involvement of over 22 schools but also raised over US$15,000 in sponsorship.

And for the Americas, Costa Rica's Richard Illingworth, a tireless promoter of cricket not only in his own country but throughout the region, was awarded the Volunteer of the Year Award.

Two lifetime Service Awards were handed out with Norma Whitehorn, a founding member and former President of the International Women's Cricket Council (IWCC), and Dr. Harjit Singh of the Malaysian Cricket Association, both honoured for their outstanding contribution to the game.

Dr. Singh, known locally as "Mr Cricket", introduced junior cricket to primary schools in his region and has now established a cricket academy, believed to be the first one in South East Asia.

MsWhitehorn was elected as Honorary Secretary of the IWCC at its first meeting in 1958 and later served as Honorary Treasurer, Vice-President and President, as well as playing roles with the Surrey Women's Cricket Association and Wallington Ladies Cricket Club for almost 50 years.

The global judging panel consisted 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).

A total of 41 ICC Members submitted 157 nominations for Awards at a regional level, of which 42 went forward for consideration at the global level.

This is the fourth year of the ICC Development Program Annual Awards, which started in 2002.

* These Global Winners all receive a Kookaburra voucher for US$1000.

+ With the winner of the Best Junior Cricket Initiative award receiving a Gemini Bowling machine donated by Flicx.

Best Overall Cricket Development Program
Uganda Cricket Association

Best Junior Cricket Initiative
PNG Cricket Board

Best Women's Cricket Initiative
Tanzanian Cricket Association

Best Cricket Promotional Program
Cricket Scotland/Lloyds TSB Scotland

Best Spirit of Cricket Initiative
Asian Cricket Sixes Tour - Phuket Thailand.

Photo of the Year
China Cricket Association

UNAIDS Award
Namibia Cricket Board

Volunteer of the Year
Richard Illingworth, Costa Rica

Lifetime Service Award
Dr. Harjit Singh, Malaysia
Ms. Norma Whitehorn