Scotland claims top prize in ICC Annual Awards 2015

DUBAI: Cricket Scotland has taken the top prize in the annual ICC Development Programme Awards 2015, claiming the Best Overall Cricket Development Programme Award.Cricket Scotland’s Development Programme continues to go from strength to strength, growing cricket across the country with a number of innovate new programmes introduced in 2015.These programmes includes Thriving Clubs which provides hands on professional support from experts to cricket clubs, the expansion of Last Man Stands across Scottish cities and the first Cricket Force scheme, which was launched in conjunction with Jewson to help improve facilities in local communities.The Lifetime Service Award was won by Jim Bennett for his dedication to the administration of youth cricket in Ireland. Mr Bennett sits on the Executive Committee for Cricket Leinster, the group tasked with the running and administration of the club game in the province of Leinster. Mr Bennett is also heavily involved in his club side the Hills as role of Club President – a position he has held with distinction for the last 15 years.Competition for the Spirit of Cricket Award was high with Vanuatu and Malaysia being named as the joint winners. Vanuatu was recognised for its Women’s Island Cricket Programme which assisted with clean-up efforts at the back of the destruction caused by Cyclone Pam in March 2015.Malaysia was named co-winners, thanks to its Bat for Nepal fundraising match which generated thousands of dollars for Nepal following the earthquake in April 2015.Rwanda Cricket Association has picked up the Image of the Year award for its photo capturing cricket development at a coaching clinic in Rwanda. Other winners were Ivan Thawithemwira of the Uganda Cricket Association, who won the Volunteer of the Year award, thanks to his contribution to cricket development in the Western Uganda district of Fort Portal, and Gemma Dunning from the Jersey Cricket Board, who won the Women’s Cricket ‘Behind the Scenes’ award for her work to inspire more girls to take part in sport through the vehicle of cricket called Crick-Fit @ The Beach.The judging panel for these awards featured ICC Chairman Manohar and President Zaheer Abbas.All ICC Development Programme Annual Awards 2015 winners receive a cricket equipment grant to its national cricket body.’