Dubai, March 26:

The Asia Region did well in the ICC Development Program Annual awards picking up two awards — Cricket Development Region No 5 (Nepalgunj) in Nepal won the Women’s Cricket Initiative and the Singapore Cricket Association won the Best Overall Cricket Development Programme.

Nepalgunj was nominated for the awards after it won the ACC Development Award for the same programme in February.

Other two Associate Members, Canada and Uganda each picked up two awards, making them the big winners of this year’s competition.

Canada was awarded the Best Junior Cricket Initiative for the Ontario Junior Programme and the Best Cricket Promotional and Marketing Award for the CIMA Canada — “Celebration of Cricket”.

Rebecca Alwaya won the Volunteer of the Year Award for her outstanding contribution to the game in Uganda while the Photo of the Year Award featured a wonderful shot of Ugandan cricket.

The Africa region collected its third award when Dr John Abebe from Nigeria won the Lifetime Service Award, having devoted more than 30 years of cricket work, as a player, official and administrator. He is known as the “father of cricket” in Nigeria.

The Best Spirit of Cricket Initiative in Partnership with UNAIDS was won by Cricket Fiji for its “Run out AIDS day”.

All global winners receive $2000 worth Kookaburra equipment except for the Volunteer of the Year and Lifetime Service Awards, who both receive $1000 of Kookaburra equipment for their national association.