The International Cricket Council has released a new framework to help women cricketers return to the sport after pregnancy and childbirth. Announced on June 22, 2026, the Return to Play Post-Pregnancy Guidelines are meant for ICC member boards to use while making their own policies, in line with local laws.
The document focuses on player welfare during pregnancy, after childbirth and through the return-to-play process. It does not act as a single global rule for every country. Instead, it gives boards a structure they can adapt when supporting contracted and active players.
What the ICC guidelines cover
The guidelines were drafted by a team led by Dr. Philippa Inge, a member of the ICC Medical Advisory Committee and Australia Team Doctor. According to the framework, boards should consider practical, physical and psychological needs when a player is preparing to resume cricket.
One of the key recommendations is the appointment of a case manager. This person would usually be a doctor or physiotherapist and would act as the main point of contact for the player. The idea is to keep communication clear and flexible, with the welfare of the mother and child at the centre of planning.
The ICC document also says that exercise during pregnancy can be recommended, but it notes that there is limited evidence on how to design programmes specifically for elite athletes. The guidelines recommend that players stop competing at the end of the first trimester.
The 6 Rs return-to-play framework
For the period after childbirth, the ICC has laid out a 6 Rs framework. It gives boards and medical teams a broad guide to assess recovery, rebuild fitness and manage the player’s wider needs before full return to cricket.
- Ready: Covers the first 0 to 6 weeks after childbirth.
- Review: Covers the 6 to 8 week period, when medical and physical review becomes important.
- Restore: Covers 8 to 16 weeks, with attention to rebuilding physical function.
- Recondition: Covers 12 to 16 weeks and beyond, as training load may increase gradually.
- Return: Focuses on the process of coming back to cricket activity.
- Refine: Includes continuing support, such as addressing childcare, travel and mental well-being.
The framework recognises that returning to sport is not only a question of fitness. The guidelines include practical help such as access to childcare, space to change or rest the baby, breastfeeding facilities, and travel-related support. They also mention access to alternate employment opportunities.
How cricket boards currently support players
The level of maternity support differs across cricket-playing countries. Australia is cited as having a comprehensive policy. Its support includes paid leave, benefits and assistance until the child is four years old, along with contract extension guarantees.
New Zealand, South Africa, England, Pakistan and the West Indies also have maternity policies, though the level of support varies. India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh do not have dedicated norms for women cricketers in this area, according to the source material. In Taliban-led Afghanistan, women are not allowed to take up the sport.
The ICC framework may therefore be more relevant for boards that do not yet have a detailed policy. It gives them a starting point for medical care, communication and practical planning, while leaving room for national rules and contracts.
Mothers who have played international cricket
Several women cricketers have returned to compete at the top level after becoming mothers. The list includes Bismah Maroof of Pakistan, Afy Fletcher of the West Indies, Amy Satterthwaite of New Zealand, Megan Schutt of Australia and Masabata Klaas of South Africa.
The 2022 Women’s ODI World Cup included eight mothers, with some of them also captaining their teams. Their presence showed that motherhood and international cricket have already coexisted in the women’s game, though the support systems around players have not been the same everywhere.
In India, there are currently no mothers in the national women’s team. Sneha Deepthi, however, has played at the domestic level and in the Women’s Premier League after giving birth to her daughter.
The ICC’s new guidelines put these issues into a formal cricket framework. For players, the most immediate value may be in having clearer medical review, structured training stages and practical support when they plan a return after childbirth.
Source: The Hindu Cricket.