ICC Launches Post-Pregnancy Return-to-Play Guidelines for Female Cricketers
The six-stage pathway includes case managers, multidisciplinary care teams and 16 weeks of monitored recovery to help players return safely after childbirth.
- On Monday, the International Cricket Council announced guidelines supporting female cricketers returning to sport post-pregnancy, covering early recovery, training, and conditioning during a 16-week window before the comeback.
- Designed to ensure motherhood and professional cricket are not mutually exclusive, the framework outlines a 6-step pathway—Ready, Review, Restore, Recondition, Return, and Refine—supporting players through physical recovery and medical assessments.
- Australia Team Doctor Philippa Inge, who led the drafting, said the initiative is 'designed to show players that having a baby doesn't need to be the end of their career.' Inge emphasized adaptability for member nations.
- West Indies cricketer Afy Fletcher believes the guidelines will help more players rejoin the game, saying, 'It gives you a chance to have your family and then return.'
- ICC Chairman Jay Shah called the policy a vital step in 'creating a more supportive and informed environment,' as guidelines recommend boards appoint a dedicated case manager to support each player's individual journey.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Explained: What are ICC's guidelines for players to return to cricket post-pregnancy?
To support a safe and sustainable return to cricket, the ICC’s Guidelines covers early recovery after birth, medical and wellbeing reviews, gradual return to structured training, cricket-specific conditioning, return to play and ongoing monitoring once a player is back in the cricket environment.
ICC announces 'Return to Play Post-Pregnancy' guidelines; check what the policies say?
The International Cricket Council announced guidelines, named 'Return to Play Post-Pregnancy Guidelines' for female cricketers, outlining a six 'R's framework: Ready, Review, Restore, Recondition, Return and Refine. The guidelines aim to ensure a safe and sustainable return for women cricketers to the sport post-pregnancy to cover their early recovery after birth, structured training, and conditioning during a 16-week window before the comeback.…
"Having Baby Doesn't Need To Be End Of Career": ICC Unveils Post-Pregnancy Return-To-Play Guidelines
To ensure a safe and sustainable return to cricket for women players post-pregnancy, the ICC on Monday announced guidelines to cover their early recovery after birth, structured training, and conditioning during a 16-week window before the comeback.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
