The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) claimed three global honours at the ICC Development Awards 2025, cementing its status as one of the standout Associate Members in world cricket. The awards were presented on 14 July at the ICC Annual Conference in Edinburgh, Scotland, recognising outstanding development programmes and performances from Associate Members across the globe.

Three Awards, One Night

The ECB's haul began with the Marriott Bonvoy ICC Development Initiative of the Year award for its Girls U15 Academy League — described as the first initiative of its kind in the region. The programme has expanded competitive cricket access for young girls across the United Arab Emirates, with a focus on inclusion and grassroots opportunity.

For the second consecutive year, the ICC Female Cricket Initiative of the Year was shared between two nations — the ECB and Türkiye Cricket. The ECB earned this recognition for building on the legacy of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024, channelling that momentum into the Interschool Criiio Gulf Cup and the Get into Cricket – Girls Only programme, both of which introduced the sport to schools and communities where opportunities for girls had previously been limited.

The third honour — ICC Associate Member Women's Team Performance of the Year — went to the UAE women's cricket team for a landmark campaign against Zimbabwe. Playing their first ODI series after gaining One-Day International status, the UAE drew the four-match series 2-2, then followed it with a 2-0 T20I series victory — their first series win over a higher-ranked Full Member nation away from home.

What the ECB Said

ECB Board Member Zayed Abbas described the triple recognition as a significant morale boost. 'These awards are a great encouragement for the Emirates Cricket Board management, officials, players, and support staff. We thank the International Cricket Council for recognising Associate Members who face significant challenges to deliver such initiatives,' he said.

Abbas added that the acknowledgement of the women's team in particular carried special weight. 'The acknowledgement our women's team has received truly inspires us. It gives us incredible motivation for the ongoing growth and development of women's cricket in the country.'

A Growing Base at Home

According to Abbas, the rising profile of women's cricket in the UAE — driven by increased media coverage and expanding school and academy programmes — has created a broad participation base. 'Thousands of girls are now playing cricket. This means we have a solid base to build on for the coming years. Many of these girls will eventually represent the UAE junior and senior teams, and we are dedicated to providing them every opportunity and support,' he said.

What Comes Next for UAE Cricket

Looking ahead, the ECB has set its sights on the ACC Women's Asia Cup 2026 as a major competitive milestone, alongside qualification campaigns for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup and ICC Women's ODI World Cup. Abbas indicated the board plans to expand development programmes while securing more fixtures against stronger opponents to accelerate the national team's growth.

Other winners at the ICC Development Awards 2025 included the Federazione Cricket Italiana (Associate Member Men's Team Performance), the Japan Cricket Association (Digital Fan Engagement), the Confederação Brasileira de Cricket (Cricket 4 Good Social Impact Initiative), and the Nigeria Cricket Federation (ICC x Rexona Criiio Cricket Festival of the Year). The UAE's triple success, however, stood out as the evening's most decorated single-member achievement.