CAN also won the ICC Award for the Best Junior Cricket Initiative while Namibia won the Best Overall Cricket Development Program Award. Germany picked up the Best Women´s Cricket Initiative award, Israel won the Best Spirit of Cricket Initiative Award and Papua New Guinea won Best Cricket Promotion and Marketing Program award, according to the ICC. [break]
James Bennett of Ireland and S Gopalkrishnan of Indonesia were honored with the Volunteer of the Year Award. The Photo of the Year Award went to a photo taken by Rob O´Connor of Ireland.
The winners were selected by a panel comprising ICC President David Morgan, former ICC presidents Ehsan Mani, Malcolm Gray and Ray Mali, and Chief Executive of Marylebone Cricket Club Keith Bradshaw.
The national associations of the winners will receive cricket equipment grants equivalent to US$2,000.
Pandey expressed his delight after the announcement of the ICC award. "Nomination of my name and CAN for the award from the Asian Cricket Council was important," said Pandey. "I feel honored as ICC has awarded me now," he added.
He gave credit to his family, Nepali cricket fraternity and Nepali media for his achievement. "Within the last seven years, Nepal received two Lifetime Service Awards. This means our cricket is becoming global," Pandey said.
Prior to Pandey, former CAN president Jai Kumar Nath Shah had won the ICC Lifetime Service Award in 2003. Nepal (Regional Cricket Committee-5) had also won the Best Women´s Cricket Initiative Award in 2006.
The Pepsi ICC Development Program Awards recognize and reward the efforts of associations and individuals who promote cricket in their countries.
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