Uganda the big winners as ICC Development Program announces Regional Award winners for 2005

Africa Photo of the Year - Kampala Kids League, Uganda © ICC

The ICC Development Program has announced the regional winners of the 2005 Annual Awards.

157 nominations were received from 41 different Members and Uganda were the big winners.

The African country, which has 25,000 youngsters involved in one of the biggest junior development programs of any Associate or Affiliate Members, collected four awards, the most for any Member.

Hong Kong and Papua New Guinea each picked up three awards while in the Americas region the nine different awards on offer were won by nine different Members.

Americas Photo of the year - Keep your eye on the ball - Cayman Islands © ICC

Five Members - Germany, the Maldives, Mexico, Qatar and Tanzania - secured awards for the first time.

And of the ICC's five regions - Africa, the Americas, Asia, East Asia-Pacific and Europe - Africa and the Americas had most award nominations with 44 each.

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

Asia - Photo of the Year © ICC

"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 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 sign the game is continuing to grow."

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 Associate and Affiliate Member countries.

Europe Photo of the Year © ECC

Nominees in 2005 came from a range of levels - country, club, association, team, school and individual - highlighting the positive impact cricket is making on the lives of players from culturally diverse communities.

The Regional Award Winners below will each receive an ICC plaque and be put forward for the ICC Global Award. The Global winner of the Best Junior Development Initiative Award will receive a Gemini Bowling Machine, provided by Flicx International.

The Global winners of all the other awards will receive either $500 or $1000 voucher for Kookaburra equipment, generously provided by Kookaburra.

EAP - Photo of the Year © ICC

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 list of global judges consists 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).

The global awards will be announced on 31 March 2005.