Retiring Alex de la Mar Receives ICC Lifetime Achievement Award
Published at 16 October, 2025On Wednesday, October 8th, Alex was given a farewell lunch by his KNCB colleagues. He was also presented with a liber amicorum filled with countless adventures and anecdotes. The icing on the cake, however, came from Andy Wright of the ICC, who announced in a video message that Alex would receive the ICC Lifetime Achievement Award – a tremendous honor bestowed upon few.
Alex started in 1986 in The Hague at the Willem de Zwijgerlaan, where the KNCB’s headquarters were located at the time. The KNCB subsequently moved to Amstelveen, Zeist, two addresses in Nieuwegein, and back to Amstelveen. Alex, who often had to pack his belongings, is now doing so for the last time, after an impressive career of no fewer than 39 years with the KNCB.
From the KNCB's nomination: “All in all, over a period of 40 years Alex has served all the KNCB boards - and has been part of all important developments in Dutch cricket. We mention the following : the growing international ambitions and performances, starting with the organisation of the ICC Associates Trophy in the Netherlands in 1990, the participation in several ICC World Cups, a healthy national club league over the years with all its bigger and smaller troubles, the introduction of grass wickets in the Netherlands as from 1996 (now at 7 clubs), the regular accountabilty towards the ICC, the support for the many trips of the Dutch national team abroad, the growing interest for women's cricket, and so much more.
All the best, Alex!
