New ICC Policy Paves Way For Motherhood In Cricket

DUBAI-The International Cricket Council (ICC) on June 22 launched its return-to-play post-pregnancy guidelines, providing female cricketers, member boards and medical staff with a structured framework to support players returning to competitive cricket after childbirth.

The guidelines, introduced under the ICC’s broader 100% Cricket initiative, aim to normalize conversations around women’s health and ensure that motherhood and professional cricket are not seen as mutually exclusive.

The framework features a six-step pathway — Ready, Review, Restore, Recondition, Return and Refine — covering recovery, medical reviews, gradual training, cricket-specific conditioning, return to competition and ongoing monitoring.

Dr Philippa Inge, Australia women’s team doctor and a member of the ICC Medical Advisory Committee, said the guidelines were intended to help member nations support players returning to cricket after pregnancy and show that motherhood does not have to end a player’s career.

The recommendations include appointing a dedicated case manager, typically a doctor or physiotherapist, to coordinate support throughout a player’s pregnancy and return to cricket. The guidelines also call for regular medical and player-management reviews at key stages, including during pregnancy and after childbirth.

The ICC also recommends a multidisciplinary support team, including medical, fitness and mental health professionals, to support players throughout the process.

The governing body said the decision to announce a pregnancy should rest entirely with the player and that member boards should not mandate pregnancy testing.

While the ICC encourages continued exercise during pregnancy, it said training and competition decisions should be individualized and made in consultation with medical professionals. The guidelines recommend that players stop competing after the first trimester but note that decisions should ultimately be made by the player, her doctors and her cricket board’s medical staff.

West Indies leg-spinner Afy Fletcher, who returned to international cricket after giving birth to her son in 2021 and is currently playing in the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup in England and Wales, welcomed the move.

“It gives you a chance to have your family and then return, so I think that’s one of the best things they could have done for women’s cricket,” Fletcher said.

The guidelines also encourage practical support measures such as childcare assistance, suitable facilities for feeding or caring for babies at venues, and travel support where possible.

“Motherhood and elite cricket should not be seen as mutually exclusive. By providing clear, practical and player-centered guidance, we want to help Member Boards support informed choices, protect player welfare and retain more outstanding talent in the game,” an ICC spokesperson said. (IANS)