The International Cricket Council (ICC) has launched its Return to Play Post-Pregnancy Guidelines for female cricketers, providing players, Member Boards, medical professionals and coaches with a practical framework to support a return to cricket after pregnancy.
“The continued growth of women’s cricket must be built on opportunity, inclusion and care for our players at every stage of their lives and careers,” ICC Chair Jay Shah said in a statement. “No player should have to choose between motherhood and representing her country at the highest level.”
With women’s cricket becoming increasingly professional and career opportunities continuing to expand, more players are choosing to start families during their playing careers and return to elite cricket after giving birth. The Guidelines have been developed to aid that process and form part of the ICC’s broader commitment to player health, wellbeing and the continued growth of the women’s game.
The health and welfare of female cricketers are central pillars of the ICC’s approach to women’s cricket, which is one of the organisation’s six strategic priorities. As part of this approach, the ICC has rolled out a range of women’s health initiatives under the ‘100% Cricket’ movement to educate players and staff, while building awareness and normalising important conversations in sporting environments.
The Return to Play Post-Pregnancy Guidelines are designed to help Members develop their own pregnancy and return-to-play policies in line with local legislation, while supporting player welfare through practical, physical and psychological guidance.
To support a safe and sustainable return to cricket, the Guidelines outline the six Rs framework: Ready, Review, Restore, Recondition, Return and Refine. The approach covers early recovery after birth, medical and wellbeing reviews, a gradual return to structured training, cricket-specific conditioning, a return to play, and ongoing monitoring once a player is back in the cricket environment.
Shah added: “The ICC’s Return to Play Post-Pregnancy Guidelines are an important step towards creating a more supportive and informed environment across the game. By providing Members with practical guidance, we want to ensure that female cricketers are supported through pregnancy and empowered to return to cricket with confidence.
“As women’s cricket continues to grow globally, it is essential that we protect player welfare, retain talented athletes and strengthen pathways for current and future generations. These Guidelines reflect our commitment to building a game where women can thrive, both on and off the field.”
Follow REVSPORTZ for more updates.
The post Jay Shah: No player should have to choose between motherhood and representing her country at the highest level appeared first on Sports News Portal | Revsportz.
