Nomination period for ICC Development Program Awards closes on Monday

The ICC today advised interested parties that the nomination period for cricket individuals and organisations to enter the third annual ICC Development Program Awards closes on Monday 31 January.

The awards recognise exceptional performance and service to the game in countries outside the ICC's 10 Full Member countries and form part of the ICC's commitment to promoting excellence in cricket development in the 82 Associate and Affiliate member countries. An application for the awards is available online at www.icc-developmentawards.com.

There are nine categories in the ICC Development Program Awards 2004 including two new awards for the Photo of the Year and a special UNAIDS Award to recognise cricket-related work that has directly contributed to addressing HIV/AIDS issues and awareness as part of world cricket's commitment to help `run out AIDS'.

The nominations are first received on a regional basis with the regional winners progressing to the global final where an esteemed ICC judging panel will select the worldwide winners.

The regional winners will be announced on the 28 February 2005. An international ICC judging panel will then select a global winner from the five regional nominations in each category, to be announced on 31 March 2005.

ICC Global Development Manager Matthew Kennedy explained that the awards serve an important role in encouraging countries, schools, clubs and individuals to continue and enhance their cricket development initiatives by formally recognising their achievements.

"The continuous positive progression in cricket development across the globe is largely due to the efforts and enthusiasm of numerous volunteer individuals and organisations," said Mr Kennedy.

"Their love of the game is infectious - often in places where cricket has not been traditionally played or known - and the work that they do is an invaluable life-line of the sport.

"As such, it is very pleasing for the ICC to be able to recognise these endeavours through the ICC Development Program Awards.

"With the clear increases in participation and profile across all 82 Associate and Affiliate member countries, the Regional and Global selection panels are sure to be faced with very worthy nominations.

"We would strongly encourage all developing cricket nations to be a part of this activity and to expose all the great cricket development that is taking place in various forms at various levels around the world."

A look back at the last two years shows the growing diversity of the cricket world with the previous global winners coming from 14 different countries from five continents.

Full details of the criteria, nomination process and an application form are available on the official ICC website at www.icc-developmentawards.com.

The full list of award categories is set out below:

- Best Overall Cricket Development Program
- Flicx Junior Cricket Initiative
- Best Women's Cricket Initiative
- Best Cricket Promotional Program
- Best Spirit of Cricket Initiative
- Photo of the Year
- UNAIDS Award
- Volunteer of the Year
- Lifetime Service Award
(awarded in special circumstances only)

The judging panel for the ICC Development Program Global Awards will comprise:

- Ehsan Mani - ICC President
- Malcom Gray - Former ICC President
- Dr Ali Bacher - Former South Africa captain and
Tournament Director of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003
- Roger Knight - MCC Chief Executive and member of the
ICC Development Committee
- Matthew Kennedy - ICC Development Manager will act
as the coordinator/chairman