Regional winners of ICC Development Awards 2023 unveiled
The International Cricket Council (ICC) revealed the full list of regional winners across six award categories, who will now be put forward as nominees for global awards
It was a groundbreaking year on and off the field for 21 ICC Associate members, who were revealed as the regional winners of the ICC Development Awards 2023 on Wednesday, 24 April.
These winners will now be put forward as global nominees in six categories, voted by a specialist panel comprising game development experts, former international cricketers and media personnel.
The six award categories honouring the 21 nations are: the ICC Development Initiative of the Year, the 100% Cricket Women’s Cricket Initiative of the Year, the ICC Digital Fan Engagement of the Year, the Cricket 4 Good Social Impact Initiative of the Year, and two awards recognising the outstanding on-field performances in men’s and women’s international cricket in 2023.
Some of the standout initiatives that have been recognised are vibrant participation programmes such as Italy’s ‘Now Let’s Play Together!’ scheme, which was introduced in the school curricula with striking results, women’s cricket initiatives like Sierra Leone’s initiative on International Women’s Day, which brought 800 women together alongside inspirational public figures for empowerment discussions and cricket activities, and the Women’s Japan Premier League to drive greater competition among Japan’s national women’s team.
Also recognised are the social impact initiatives like Bahrain’s dynamic ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Trophy Tour stop, which engaged a variety of community groups alongside the prized silverware, and Samoa’s ‘Healthy Nanas’ programme that drove social change through the sport.
Netherlands players were stunned after booking their spot at the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 with a late surge against Scotland
On-field performances were also recognised in the ICC Development Awards 2023, with Canada, Indonesia and the Netherlands, who provided plenty of highlights during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India, among those nominated.
William Glenwright, the ICC General Manager – Development, congratulated the regional winners and called the awards a longstanding initiative to reward outstanding efforts to grow and strengthen the game among the ICC Associate members.
“We are delighted to announce the regional winners in the ICC Development Awards 2023. I want to thank all of our Members for the work that they commit to growing the game like it has never grown before and congratulate all of the successful member federations on their remarkable achievements in 2023,” he said.
“The ICC Development Awards is a long-running initiative that recognises and rewards the outstanding efforts to grow and strengthen the game in the 94 ICC Associate Member nations. 2023 was an extraordinary year for emerging nations and their relentless passion for the sport is evident in the nominations we have received.”
FULL LIST OF REGIONAL WINNERS:
ICC Development Initiative of the Year
Africa Regional Winner – Nigeria Cricket Federation
Americas Regional Winner – Mexico Cricket Association
Asia Regional Winner – Qatar Cricket Association
EAP Regional Winner – Cricket PNG
Europe Regional Winner – Federazione Cricket Italiana
100% Cricket Female Cricket Initiative of the Year
Africa Regional Winner – Sierra Leone Cricket Association
Americas Regional Winner – Costa Rica Cricket Federation
Asia Regional Winner – Oman Cricket
EAP Regional Winner – Japan Cricket Association
Europe Regional Winner – Cricket Belgium
ICC Associate Member Men’s Performance of the Year
Africa Regional Winner - Sierra Leone
Americas Regional Winner - Canada
Asia Regional Winner - Oman
EAP Regional Winner - Indonesia
Europe Regional Winner - Netherlands
ICC Associate Member Women’s Performance of the Year
Africa Regional Winner - Sierra Leone
Americas Regional Winner - Argentina
Asia Regional Winner - UAE
EAP Regional Winner – Indonesia
Europe Regional Winner - Scotland
ICC Digital Fan Engagement of the Year
Africa Regional Winner – Cricket Namibia
Americas Regional Winner – Bermuda Cricket Board
Asia Regional Winner – Cricket Association of Nepal
EAP Regional Winner – Persatuan Cricket Indonesia
Europe Regional Winner - Koninklijke Nederlandse Cricket Bond
Cricket 4 Good Social Impact Initiative of the Year
Africa Regional Winner - Sierra Leone Cricket Association
Americas Regional Winner – Mexico Cricket Association
Asia Regional Winner – Bahrain Cricket Federation
EAP Regional Winner – Samoa Cricket
Europe Regional Winner – Cricket Scotland