Surrey CCC Chief Executive Steve Elworthy has praised the Rwanda Cricket Association (RCA) after their success in the recent ICC Development Awards.
The RCA won the ICC Associate Member Women’s Performance of the Year after the staggering performance of the Rwanda U19s in the ICC U19 Women’s World Cup that was held in South Africa earlier this year, where they beat the West Indies and Zimbabwe as they qualified for the Super Sixes.
Surrey have been in partnership with the charity Cricket Builds Hope since 2013, initially helping raising funds and building awareness for the campaign to build the Gahanga Cricket Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda and, after the ground was opened in October 2017, continuing to help support the charity’s award winning work to use a cricket as a tool for positive social change in Rwanda.
Speaking this week, Elworthy said: “The continued growth of cricket in Rwanda is a brilliant thing to see and, given the strong partnership we have built over the years, everyone at the Club is really invested in seeing Rwandan teams succeed at the highest level.
“To see the potential of their women’s U19 side and the results they were able to achieve at the World Cup earlier this year is the strongest sign yet that Rwanda could soon start playing a part in elite international cricket.
“This award is due recognition for some of the fine work that the RCA have done and will hopefully bring even more attention to the incredible story of the growth of cricket in Rwanda.”
Cricket Builds Hope are a key partner of the RCA, who have used the new ground as a catalyst for the rapid continuing development of the sport in the country – and the story of Rwanda’s success at the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa originates from long-standing regional development programmes and U15 girls’ tournaments run every year.
These initiatives have helped build a solid base for the national team to thrive, and they showed the full array of their collective talents in the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier in Botswana, beating strong competitors Uganda and Tanzania in scintillating fashion en-route to qualifying for the inaugural main event in South Africa earlier this year, where they went onto defeat Zimbabwe and West Indies.
General Manager of Rwanda Cricket Association, Emmanuel Byiringiro said, “Rwanda Cricket winning the ICC Associate Member Women’s Performance of the Year award is a remarkable achievement for the cricket fraternity and the country as a whole.
“It signifies the dedication, hard work and investment in developing women’s cricket in the country. This award will have a significant impact on the development of cricket in Rwanda, inspiring more young girls and women to take up the sport.
“The award win will also enhance the visibility of Rwanda cricket, paving the way for more opportunities, and partnerships.”
ICC General Manager Development, William Glenwright concluded, “The ICC Development Awards continue to shine a light on the inspirational stories that emanate from the excellent work conducted by ICC Members throughout the year.
“This year we have heard about the remarkable efforts undertaken by global federations to grow and develop the game through world-leading participation programmes, thrilling on-field performances and innovative social impact initiatives.”
