The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) excelled at the ICC Development Awards 2025, securing three global accolades for its dedication to expanding and enhancing women’s cricket in the United Arab Emirates. The awards ceremony took place during the ICC Annual Conference in Edinburgh, Scotland, recognizing exceptional development programs and performances by ICC Associate Members worldwide.
One of the notable achievements was the ECB winning the Marriott Bonvoy ICC Development Initiative of the Year award for its innovative Girls U15 Academy League, a pioneering initiative in the region. This program has not only increased young girls’ access to competitive cricket but has also emphasized inclusivity and opportunities for all.
For the second year running, the ICC Female Cricket Initiative of the Year award was shared by the Emirates Cricket Board and Türkiye Cricket. The ECB was honored for its efforts following the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, introducing initiatives like the Interschool Criiio Gulf Cup and Get into Cricket – Girls Only program to schools and communities, particularly where girls’ cricket opportunities were limited.
Additionally, the UAE was recognized with the ICC Associate Member Women’s Team Performance of the Year award for its remarkable performance against Zimbabwe. In a groundbreaking series, the UAE women’s team, in their first ODI series post gaining One-Day International status, drew the four-match series 2-2 and went on to triumph over Zimbabwe 2-0 in the T20I series, marking a historic victory over a higher-ranked Full Member nation on foreign soil.
