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The International Cricket Council recently launched the third annual ICC Development Program Awards.

The awards recognise exceptional performance and service to the game in countries outside of the ICC’s 10 Full Member Countries and form part of the ICC’s commitment to promoting excellence in cricket development in the 82 Associate and Affiliate member countries.

There are nine categories in the ICC Development Program Awards 2004 including two new awards for the Photo of the Year and a special UNAIDS Award to recognise cricket-related work that has directly contributed to addressing HIV/AIDS issues and awareness as part of world cricket’s commitment to help ‘run out AIDS’.

The nominations are first received on a regional basis with the regional winners progressing to the global final where an esteemed ICC judging panel will select the worldwide winners.

Full details of the criteria, nomination process and an application form are available on the official ICC website at www.icc-developmentawards.com.

Regional nominations close on 31 January 2005 and regional winners will be announced on the 28 February 2005.

The ICC judging panel will then select a global winner from the five regional nominations in each category, to be announced on 31 March 2005.

The full list of award categories is set out below:

- Best Overall Cricket Development Program
- Flicx Junior Cricket Initiative
- Best Women’s Cricket Initiative
- Best Cricket Promotional Program
- Best Spirit of Cricket Initiative
- Photo of the Year
- UNAIDS Award
- Volunteer of the Year
- Lifetime Service Award (awarded in special circumstances only)

The judging panel for the ICC Development Program Global Awards will comprise:

- Ehsan Mani – ICC President
- Malcom Gray – Former ICC President
- Dr Ali Bacher – Former South Africa captain and Tournament Director of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003
- Roger Knight – MCC Chief Executive and member of the ICC Development Committee
- Matthew Kennedy - ICC Development Manager will act as the coordinator/chairman