ICC Development Awards 2023: Regional Winners Announced
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled the regional winners of the 2023 ICC Development Awards, spotlighting the impressive achievements in emerging cricket nations throughout the year.
Established in 2002, the ICC Development Awards celebrate the innovative initiatives and programmes delivered by ICC Members to foster the growth of cricket worldwide.
This year, 21 nations have been recognised as regional winners across six award categories, including 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 for outstanding on-field performances in men’s and women’s international cricket in 2023.
Among the initiatives recognised as regional winners are dynamic participation programmes in Italy, Mexico, and Nigeria, women’s cricket initiatives in Sierra Leone, Costa Rica, and Japan, and social impact projects in Bahrain, Samoa, and Scotland. Canada, Indonesia, and the Netherlands have also been honoured for their performances during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India.
The regional winners will now be considered for global awards in each category, with the final selection made by a panel of game development experts, former international cricketers, and media personnel.
ICC General Manager – Development, William Glenwright, on the Announcement
“We are delighted to announce the regional winners in the ICC Development Awards for 2023. I want to thank all of our Members for their commitment to growing the game and congratulate all of the successful member federations on their remarkable achievements in 2023,” said William Glenwright, ICC General Manager – Development.
“The ICC Development Awards is a long-standing initiative that recognises and rewards the outstanding efforts to grow and strengthen the game in our 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.
“Through a variety of participation programmes, digital innovations, and inclusive social impact programmes, we have once again seen how cricket continues to enrich communities around the world. With the addition of some historic on-field successes, there is plenty to celebrate and we look forward to crowning the six global winners later in the year.”
Regional Winners in Detail
The ICC Development Initiative of the Year award recognises the outstanding development initiative delivered during the year. Regional winners include the Nigeria Cricket Federation for their Under-17 Cricket Championship, the Mexico Cricket Association for their innovative programme that introduced cricket in prisons throughout Mexico City, Cricket PNG for their Malolo Cricket initiative, Qatar Cricket Association for their successful implementation of national projects including criiio, and Federazione Cricket Italiana’s ‘Now Let’s Play Together!’ scheme.
The 100% Cricket Female Cricket Initiative of the Year acknowledges the outstanding female cricket focused initiatives. Regional winners include Cricket Belgium’s initiative to develop their women’s cricket infrastructure, Costa Rica Cricket Federation’s groundbreaking work to host a Mothers and Daughters programme, the Women’s Japan Premier League delivered by the Japan Cricket Association, Sierra Leone Cricket Association’s initiative on International Women’s Day, and Oman Cricket’s ‘Cricket4Her’ programme.
In the men’s performance category, the regional winners include Oman, Indonesia, Sierra Leone, Canada, and the Netherlands.
The regional winners of the women’s performance category include Argentina, Indonesia, Scotland, Sierra Leone, and UAE.
The regional winners in the ICC Digital Fan Engagement of the Year include Cricket Association of Nepal, Cricket Namibia, Persatuan Cricket Indonesia, Koninklijke Nederlandse Cricket Bond, and Bermuda Cricket Board.
The projects celebrated in the Cricket 4 Good Social Impact Initiative of the Year include Cricket Bahrain’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Trophy Tour stop, Mexico Cricket Association’s Street Child project, Cricket Scotland’s partnership with a local charity, Samoa Cricket’s ‘Healthy Nanas’ programme, and Sierra Leone Cricket Association’s ‘Cricket for Change’ initiative.
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