The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the global winners of the ICC Development Awards 2024, recognizing outstanding cricket development initiatives from its Associate Members across the world. Eight Member nations—Bhutan, Indonesia, Namibia, Nepal, Scotland, Tanzania, the USA, and Vanuatu—earned top global honors.
Now in their 22nd year, the ICC Development Awards highlight impactful grassroots and community-based programmes that are growing cricket in emerging regions. In 2024, the awards included seven categories for the first time, following the introduction of the ICC X Rexona criiio Cricket Festival of the Year.
Namibia, Bhutan, and Vanuatu lead development initiatives
Cricket Namibia took home the ICC Development Initiative of the Year award for the Ashburton Kwata Mini-Cricket Programme, a grassroots programme integrated into physical education periods across Namibian public schools. It currently provides cricket access to tens of thousands of students across 14 regions.
The 100% Cricket Female Initiative of the Year was jointly awarded to Bhutan Cricket Council Board and Vanuatu Cricket Association. Bhutan’s win comes from its Inter-School Girls’ Competition, which introduces young girls to the sport through progressive formats. Vanuatu’s “Picking Wickets” programme innovatively combined cricket coaching with seasonal fruit-picking jobs in Australia, using hybrid remote and in-person training to engage female players.
USA and Scotland honored for team performances
USA Cricket earned the ICC Associate Member Men’s Team Performance of the Year for a landmark 2024 T20 World Cup campaign, highlighted by wins over Canada and a historic victory over Pakistan. The run brought the men’s team into the Super Eight stage and attracted widespread attention across American mainstream media.
Cricket Scotland received the ICC Associate Member Women’s Team Performance of the Year after their women’s side qualified for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 for the first time. Kathryn Bryce led the squad and was named Player of the Tournament at the Qualifier, contributing to a major boost in women’s cricket interest and participation across Scotland.
Nepal’s digital success and Indonesia’s social impact recognized
The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) was awarded the ICC Digital Fan Engagement of the Year after increasing its total audience by over 420,000 new followers and reaching approximately 117 million users across Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X. Video minutes on Facebook exceeded 13.4 million, while YouTube watch time rose by 277% to over 2.13 million hours.
Indonesia won the ICC Cricket 4 Good Social Impact Initiative of the Year for its “Cricket for Confidence” programme. The initiative introduced structured physical activity through cricket to over 300 schoolgirls from remote regions, aiming to empower girls socially and physically in one of the world’s most geographically dispersed countries.
Tanzania wins inaugural ICC criiio Cricket Festival of the Year
The Tanzania Cricket Association received the inaugural ICC criiio Cricket Festival of the Year with Rexona for hosting a community-driven festival in Dar es Salaam. The event featured 120 women, including housewives, professionals, and former cricketers, who took part in a day of cricket as part of the “From Kitchen to Crease” programme.
“These awards shine a spotlight on the exceptional grassroots work taking place across emerging cricket nations,” said ICC Chairman Jay Shah. “We’re proud to honor the innovation, passion, and progress these programs represent.”
Global winners were selected by a diverse judging panel that included top cricket executives, former international players, and media representatives from Cricket Australia, Cricket West Indies, Sri Lanka Cricket, the BCCI, Zimbabwe Cricket, and UNICEF India, among others.
Full list of ICC Development Awards 2024 global winners
- ICC Development Initiative of the Year: Cricket Namibia
- 100%Cricket Female Initiative of the Year: Bhutan Cricket Council Board & Vanuatu Cricket Association
- ICC Associate Member Men’s Team Performance of the Year: USA Cricket
- ICC Associate Member Women’s Team Performance of the Year: Cricket Scotland
- ICC Digital Fan Engagement of the Year: Cricket Association of Nepal
- ICC Cricket 4 Good Social Impact Initiative of the Year: Persatuan Cricket Indonesia
- ICC criiio Cricket Festival of the Year with Rexona: Tanzania Cricket Association
