The International Cricket Council (ICC) has introduced new guidelines aimed at helping female cricketers return to elite-level cricket after pregnancy and childbirth.
Launched during the Women’s T20 World Cup in England, the “Return to Play Post-Pregnancy Guidelines” provide a framework for players, national boards, coaches, and medical staff to support mothers returning to the sport. The guidelines are intended to help member nations create their own policies while focusing on player welfare, recovery, and mental wellbeing.
Dr Philippa Inge, Australia’s team doctor and a member of the ICC medical advisory committee, led the development of the guidelines. She said the goal is to ensure that having a child does not mean the end of a player’s cricket career.
The move comes as more women continue playing professional cricket while starting families. Several international players have successfully returned to the game after giving birth, highlighting the growing need for structured support systems.
Pakistan’s former captain Bismah Maroof famously returned to international cricket after becoming a mother and brought her daughter to the 2022 Women’s World Cup. West Indies leg-spinner Afy Fletcher also returned to international cricket after giving birth in 2021 and is currently playing in the Women’s T20 World Cup.
Other players, including New Zealand’s Amy Satterthwaite and Lauren Down, as well as South Africa’s Masabata Klaas, have spoken openly about the challenges of balancing motherhood with professional cricket. India’s Sneha Deepthi also became a role model after being selected for the Women’s Premier League while raising a young child.
Fletcher welcomed the ICC’s decision, calling it one of the most important steps for women’s cricket. She said balancing motherhood and an international career can be difficult, but strong support systems make a huge difference.
The guidelines are built around a framework known as the “6 Rs” which includes Ready, Review, Restore, Recondition, Return, and Refine. The process covers recovery after childbirth, medical assessments, gradual training, cricket-specific conditioning, returning to competition, and long-term monitoring.
The ICC also recommends practical measures such as flexible training schedules, access to facilities and support services, childcare guidance, dedicated spaces for feeding and caring for babies at venues, and travel support whenever possible.
The initiative is expected to help more female cricketers continue their careers after becoming mothers and further strengthen the growth of women’s cricket around the world.