Mr. Ahmed Hassan Didi, President of the Cricket Board of Maldives, is set to step down from his role in June after 20 years of service with the sports governing body here in Maldives. Didi has been in his current role since winning the first Cricket Board of Maldives election in 2008 and again in 2012. Even before the 8 years as President he oversaw the formation of the Cricket Control Board of Maldives becoming a member of the Asian Cricket Council and the International Cricket Council in 1996. As secretary and and later Vice-President, Didi was responsible for implementing the first regular cricket calendars and overseeing the first junior development programme ‘Year 2000 and Beyond’.
Mr. Didi made the announcement to the Executive Committee and Development Manager Mr. Imad Ismail, in April of this year. “During his time involved with Maldives Cricket, Didi has passionately led initiatives for the games growth and development at a domestic and international level, including Asia regional successes in 2005, 2006 & 2010”.
“Didi has created strong relationships benefitting Maldives within the Associate and Affiliate Members in Asia and currently sits on the Asia Cricket Council Executive Committee”.
“The performances of the men’s National Team have also improved markedly in the twenty years, particularly at the ACC Trophy Challenge in 2010 and the ACC Emerging Nations Cups in 2005 and 2006. Mr. Didi has also advocated for the domestic clubs of Maldives to take responsibility to develop their own players form juniors to women through to their men’s 1st Eleven”.
Imad Ismail noted that although Didi is stepping away from the Presidential role, he would be available for consultancy roles and special projects; particularly in maintaining strong international and regional relationships and the vital support provided by them.
A modest player in his youth, it was in his early twenties that his obvious skills were organising, officiating and recording the cricket played in Maldives in the 1980s and early 90s. As an admirer of all sports, Didi was also elected a member of the National Sports Council from 2009 to 2014.
Professionally he began working in the Presidents Office as an Administrative Officer and made rapid progression as a Research Officer through various Director roles up to Permanent Secretary. For the last 5 years Didi has worked as the Vice Chairman for the Civil Service Commission undertaking tasks related to the operation, managing and function.
Mr. Didi thanks the Asian Cricket Council for the opportunity to serve the ACC Executive Board, the International Cricket Council and every member of the successful 2010 ACC Challenge Cup winning squad as well as those that have served Maldives Cricket alongside him for so many years.
Finally and importantly, Mr. Didi expresses his gratitude to the successive governments of Maldives for their valued contribution to promote cricket in the Maldives, without which, it would have been very difficult to achieve the growth attained. The governments influence and continued support is always going to be fundamental as Maldives Cricket looks to secure itself as one of the fastest growing cricket playing nations in Asia.
