| Both the Bangkok Post and The Nation carried the recent story of recognition by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for the
Thai junior cricket programme in Chiang Mai. The Chiang Mai Schools Cricket Alliance (CMSCA) , which was begun originally with
funding raised by Chiang Mai Sixes participants, has won the ICC's award for the Best Junior Development Initiative in the
Asia region.
As the Post reported: " The award was given as part of the ICC Development Programme, and the hard work of all those
who have been bringing cricket to schools in Chiang Mai was brought to the attention of the ICC by the Asian Cricket Council
(ACC) CEO Syed Ashraful Huq and Chiang Mai Sixes coordinator for Asia, Charlie Chelliah, who is a member of the committee
of the ACC."
In announcing the awards, ICC Chief Executive Malcom Speed said -- "It is thanks to the commitment and dedication of
so many unheralded people that cricket continues to grow outside the ten full member countries."
This regional award also puts the Chiang Mai programme into the hat for a possible global award (to be announced soon).
Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes's partipating teams, sponsors, advertisers , friends and organisers can feel justly
proud of the contributions they have made to supporting and encouraging the CMSCA Thai junior cricket programme.The CMSCA
now has official ACC recognition and some financial help, however it remains dependent on raising private donations for the
development of its in-school Sawasdee Cricket program and junior hardball coaching .The enthusiasm and generosity of Chiang
Mai Sixes participants in supporting junior cricket in Thailand is a key contributor to achieving the goal of making cricket
a fully Thai sport.
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