The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the global winners of the 2024 ICC Development Awards, recognising outstanding contributions by Associate Members in growing the game worldwide.
Launched in 2002, the ICC Development Awards honour the innovation, dedication, and initiative shown by cricket’s developing nations. These awards spotlight the key role Associate Members play in expanding the sport’s reach, both on and off the field, and in strengthening cricket’s global footprint.
The 2024 ICC Development Awards featured seven categories, following the introduction of a new category: the ICC X Rexona criiio Festival of the Year award. This addition highlights the ICC’s continued commitment to recognising diverse and impactful grassroots initiatives that contribute to the global growth of cricket.
The Tanzania Cricket Association has been named the winner of the ICC X Rexona criiio Festival of the Year at the 2024 ICC Development Awards, a category newly introduced to recognise impactful festivals promoting women’s cricket. This award celebrates an outstanding initiative delivered as part of the ICC criiio Cricket Festival pilot program that significantly boosted participation and laid the foundation for long-term growth of the women’s game.
Tanzania earned the accolade for their inspirational criiio Cricket Festival held in Dar es Salaam, which brought together 120 women as part of the “From Kitchen to Crease” campaign. The festival united housewives, working professionals, and retired cricketers for a day of cricket and community spirit, offering many of the participants their first structured experience of the sport. The event not only championed inclusion but also helped create a lasting legacy for the development of women’s cricket in the country.
ICC Chair Jay Shah extended his congratulations to the global winners of the 2024 ICC Development Awards while underlining the importance of recognising the efforts of Associate Members in expanding the game’s reach. He noted that all recipients were deserving of recognition for their dedication to growing the sport in emerging cricketing nations.
Shah also highlighted the ongoing impact of the awards in drawing attention to grassroots success stories around the world. He stated that each year, the accolades bring much-needed focus to the passion, innovation, and hard work driving the development of cricket in new markets, and that 2024 was no exception.
He concluded by expressing his optimism for the future, stating that he looked forward to seeing these initiatives continue to grow and succeed in 2025 and beyond.
Such initiatives play a vital role in expanding the game’s global footprint, particularly in the non-cricketing continents. By promoting grassroots participation and providing inclusive, accessible platforms, these programs help bring cricket into new communities and ensure long-term growth in emerging regions.
Loves all things female cricket