Israel honored for cricket initiatives

The ICA will now be representing Europe in the Best Spirit of Cricket Initiative at the Global Pepsi ICC Development Programme Awards in February.

By JERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
cricket 88 (photo credit: )
cricket 88
(photo credit: )
The Israel Cricket Association was awarded the Europe Pepsi ICC Development Spirit of Cricket Award on Monday.
The ICA's Cross Border Cricket Programme introduced cricket as a means of bringing together Jewish and Bedouin children in the Negev to promote co-existence and tolerance amongst those caught up in the Israel-Arab conflict.
The ICA will now be representing Europe in the Best Spirit of Cricket Initiative at the Global Pepsi ICC Development Programme Awards in February.
Among ICC Europe's other regional winners was Cricket Espana, which wasawarded the Best Overall Cricket Development Programme Award, the firsttime since 2002 that an Affiliate Member has received the top award.Run predominantly by volunteers, Spain's national cricketing programmehas grown dramatically in recent years with 2009 seeing a significantincrease in the number of junior and school development programsinitiated.
ICC Regional Development Manager, Richard Holdsworth commented: "Thesevery well deserved awards are in recognition of the great work which isgoing on in our Associate and Affiliate member countries.
"The passion and enthusiasm for the game continues to increase and mostof the programmes and initiatives have been organized by dedicatedvolunteers. We hope these special awards will encourage others to getinvolved in our great game."