Uganda, Canada and Japan the big winners as ICC Development Program announces Regional Award winners for 2006

Photo of the Year for Europe in the ICC Development Program Regional Awards 2006 © ICC

The ICC Development Program has announced the regional winners of the 2006 Annual Awards.

143 nominations were received from 41 different Members and Uganda, Canada and Japan were the big winners, with each receiving three awards.

The African country, which collected four awards last year, once again emphasised its ongoing commitment to the game as it picked up awards in the Best Women's Cricket Initiative, Volunteer of the Year and Photo of the Year categories.

Japan, which has been an Associate Member for less than two years, also picked up three awards, the Best Overall Development Program, Best Junior Cricket Initiative and the Best Cricket Promotional and Marketing Award, which was secured for its website, https://www.cricket.or.jp/eng/

Canada also earned a hat trick of awards for the Best Junior Cricket Initiative, Best Cricket Promotion and Marketing Award and Best Spirit of Cricket in Partnership with UNAIDS.

Uganda's Rebecca Alwayo, who won the Volunteer of the Year, was joined by two other women, Clarissa Pilkington from Ireland who was honoured with a Lifetime Service Award and Perelini Mulitalo from Samoa who also collected a Volunteer of the Year Award.

Four Members - Afghanistan, Guernsey, Jersey (which both picked up two awards) and Singapore - secured prizes for the first time.

ICC Global Development Manager Matthew Kennedy congratulated all of the award winners on their achievements.

"Winning these awards is a fantastic tribute to the successful Members," said Mr Kennedy.

"They will rightly take the plaudits but the whole process of deciding the winners has left the regional judges feeling immensely positive about the health of the game around the world.

"Since the ICC's Development Program began in 1997 the number of ICC Members has more than doubled and the sheer volume and quality of nominations for these awards is a positive indicator that cricket is a strong sport growing stronger.

"This year's awards illustrate the way many established development programs are flourishing. At the same time it is really pleasing to see awards going to Members for the first time and also that women have received significant recognition for contributions to the game," added Mr Kennedy.

The Development Program Annual Awards, which began in 2002, promote excellence in cricket development and recognise exceptional performance and service to the game in the ICC's 87 Associate and Affiliate Members.

Nominees in 2006 came from a range of levels - country, club, association, team, school and individual - highlighting the positive impact cricket is making on the lives of people from culturally diverse communities.

The Regional Award Winners listed below will each receive an ICC plaque and be put forward for the ICC Global Awards.

The Global winners will receive either $100 or $2000 of cricket equipment, generously provided by Kookaburra.

These winners were selected by the relevant regional head office from the many entries received and will now be nominated for the global award in the relevant category.

The judges for the global awards are Percy Sonn (ICC President), Ehsan Mani (Past ICC President), Malcolm Gray (Past ICC President), and Keith Bradshaw (MCC Chief Executive and Secretary). The global awards will be announced on 15 March 2007.