Emerging Cricket Nations Win ICC Development Awards for Innovative Initiatives

Six emerging cricket nations—Mexico, Oman, Netherlands, UAE, Nepal, and Scotland—were recognized with ICC Development Awards on Wednesday for their groundbreaking initiatives in growing the sport worldwide.

Inaugurated in 2002, the ICC Development Awards acknowledge innovative programs and inspiring field efforts by Associate Members to promote cricket around the globe.

Chosen from 21 emerging cricket-playing nations, the winners include Mexico Cricket Association, which received the 'ICC Development Initiative of the Year' award for projects like the Street Child Cricket World Cup team and a cricket program in prisons across Mexico City.

Oman Cricket won the 100% Female Cricket Initiative of the Year for its Cricket4Her program, while the Netherlands secured the Associate Member Men’s Performance of the Year for qualifying for the Men's Cricket World Cup in India. The UAE was honored with the Associate Member Women's Performance of the Year after an unbeaten run in the Women's T20 World Cup 2024 Asia Qualifier in Malaysia.

The Cricket Association of Nepal earned the ICC Digital Fan Engagement of the Year award for significant growth on social media, and Cricket Scotland clinched the Cricket 4 Good Social Impact Initiative of the Year title.

(With inputs from agencies.)