Uganda and Canada the big winners in ICC Development Program Annual Awards

Associate Members Canada and Uganda each picked up two of the ICC Development Program Annual awards, making them the big winners of this year's competition.

Canada was awarded the Best Junior Cricket Initiative for the Ontario Junior Program and the Best Cricket Promotional and Marketing Award for the CIMA Canada - "Celebration of Cricket".

Rebecca Alwaya won the Volunteer of the Year Award for her outstanding contribution to the game in Uganda while the Photo of the Year Award featured a wonderful shot of Ugandan cricket.

The Africa region collected its third award when Dr John Abebe from Nigeria won the Lifetime Service Award, having devoted more than 30 years of cricket work, as a player, official and administrator. He is known as the "father of cricket" in Nigeria.

The Asia Region also did well in the Global Awards, picking up two awards - the Singapore Cricket Association won the coveted Best Overall Cricket Development Program, with the Region Cricket Development Region V in Nepal winning the Women's Cricket Initiative.

The Best Spirit of Cricket Initiative in Partnership with UNAIDS was won by Cricket Fiji for its "Run out AIDS day".

This year's awards produced a high standard of nominations, as well as increase in the number of submissions - from 30 in 2002 to more than 140 this year.

One of the judging panel for the Awards was ICC President Percy Sonn 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 Sonn.

"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.

The Global winners: Best Overall Cricket Development Program - Singapore Cricket Association
Best Women's Cricket Initiative - Regional Cricket Development Region V (Nepal)
Best Junior Cricket Initiative - Ontario Junior Program (Canada)
Best Cricket Promotional and Marketing Award - CIMA Canada - "Celebration of Cricket"
Best Spirit of Cricket Award in Partnership with UNAIDS - Run out AIDS day (Fiji)
Photo of the Year Award - Uganda Cricket Association
Volunteer of the Year - Rebecca A Alwayo (Uganda)
Lifetime Service Award - Dr John Abebe (Nigeria)

Prizes - all global winners receive $2000 of Kookaburra equipment except Volunteer of the Year and Lifetime Service Awards who both receive $1000 of Kookaburra equipment for their national association.