Namibia win big in the ICC Development Awards 2022
Established in 2002, the ICC Development Awards honours the ground-breaking projects and programmes carried out by ICC Members to develop cricket in developing countries.
"The ICC Development Awards continue to shine a light on the inspirational stories that emanate from the excellent work conducted by ICC Members throughout the year," ICC General Manager Development, William Glenwright, said.
"This year we have heard about the remarkable efforts undertaken by global federations to grow and develop the game through world-leading participation programmes, thrilling on-field performances and innovative social impact initiatives.
"We are delighted to share the list of global award winners in the 2022 edition, and along with the regional winners acknowledged earlier this year, I would like to congratulate them all on their success."
Namibia emerged winners in three categories, namely the ICC Development Initiative of the Year, the Men’s Associate Performance of the Year, and the Cricket 4 Good Social Impact Initiative of the Year.
Among other African countries, Nigeria claimed the 100% Cricket Female Cricket Initiative of the Year, Rwanda scooped the ICC Associate Member Women’s Performance of the Year and Uganda were victors in the ICC Digital Fan Engagement of the Year.
A specialist panel of voters consisting of Graeme Smith, Mel Jones and Stafanie Taylor determined the winners from a comprehensive list of regional award victors.
Winner of the ICC Development Initiative of the Year – Cricket Namibia
Cricket Namibia emerged victors in this category for the inspiring Ashburton Kwata Mini-Cricket Programme that was launched in 2009. It embraces the notion of playing in open environments and promotes respect, leadership, and resilience through cricket.
Winner of the 100% Cricket Female Cricket Initiative of the Year – Nigeria Cricket Federation
Nigeria emerged as the champions of this year's award due to their remarkable achievements in implementing cricket programs in Zamfara state. Located in the north-west region of the country, this area faces several obstacles that hinder women's participation in sports.
Winner of the ICC Associate Member Men’s Performance of the Year – Namibia (v Sri Lanka)
Namibia's stunning win over Sri Lanka in the opening fixture of the 2022 ICC Men's T20 World Cup is the Associate Member Men's performance of the year.
"It really is a fairy tale story for Namibian cricket to have beaten the former ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Champions," skipper Gerhard Erasmus said.
"I think the sacrifice and determination of everyone involved led to this triumph, and it will be forever etched into fans’ memories."
Stunning start for Namibia with Sri Lanka upset | Match Highlights | T20WC 2022
Winner of the ICC Associate Member Women’s Performance of the Year – Rwanda U19
Rwanda fought off strong competition to reach the inaugural Women's U19 T20 World Cup and went on showcase their talents in the tournament, winning a match against Zimbabwe. The results were on the back of long-standing regional development programmes and U15 girls’ tournaments run every year in the country.
A historic win for Rwanda | U19 Women's T20WC
Winner of the ICC Digital Fan Engagement of the Year – Uganda Cricket Association
Uganda made a remarkable comeback to the global stage in the U19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2022 event. They capitalized on this achievement by adopting innovative methods to promote their talented young players, successfully engaging and raising awareness among cricket enthusiasts throughout the country.
"It is such a great honour and a privilege for UCA and Ugandan cricket at large to be receiving this award for the ICC Digital Fan Engagement of the Year," Chief Executive Officer of Uganda Cricket Association, Alan Mugume, said.
"A lot of time and effort has gone into enlightening the public about the game in Uganda and this award shows that none of it has been in vain."
Winner of the Cricket 4 Good Social Impact Initiative of the Year – Cricket Namibia
The award was presented to Namibia's vibrant Pledge 4 Pink social impact campaign, recognizing its wide-ranging impact in raising funds for the Cancer Association of Namibia. The campaign's colourful approach proved to be immensely successful in generating support and creating positive outcomes.