The International Cricket Council (ICC) has introduced its first comprehensive Post Pregnancy Return to Play Guidelines for female cricketers, establishing a structured framework to support athletes through pregnancy, childbirth, and their return to elite competition. Announced on June 22, the policy provides cricket boards with medical, performance, and wellbeing recommendations aimed at helping players return to professional cricket safely and confidently.
ICC Chairman Jay Shah said that no player should have to choose between motherhood and representing her country at the highest level. The announcement arrives as women’s cricket continues to expand through larger international tournaments, stronger domestic leagues, and growing investment in player development and welfare programmes.
The Return-to-Play Model
A major feature of the new policy is the introduction of the “6 Rs” framework, a science-based model designed to guide athletes through recovery and their return to competition after childbirth. Developed with support from medical and performance specialists, the framework gives member boards a practical template that can be adapted to local regulations and individual player needs.
The six stages include Ready, Review, Restore, Recondition, Return, and Refine. Players begin with post-birth recovery and medical assessments before progressing through physical conditioning, cricket-specific training, and monitored reintegration into competitive cricket. The pathway is built around an approximately 16-week recovery process, although timelines may vary depending on medical advice and personal circumstances.
According to the ICC, the framework has been created to reduce injury risks, improve long-term health outcomes, and provide clearer guidance for athletes and support staff during the return-to-play process.
Practical Support for Athletes
The guidelines go beyond physical recovery and address challenges that many athletes face after becoming mothers. One of the key recommendations is the appointment of dedicated case managers, typically doctors or physiotherapists, who can coordinate care throughout pregnancy and the post-partum period.
The policy also encourages regular consultations involving medical experts, nutrition specialists, coaches, and wellbeing professionals. However, the focus extends beyond performance and rehabilitation. Member boards are encouraged to provide flexible training schedules, breastfeeding facilities, childcare support, and family-friendly arrangements during tours and training camps wherever possible.
Managing recovery while balancing childcare responsibilities can place additional demands on professional athletes. Therefore, the ICC has included practical recommendations intended to support players both on and off the field.
Opportunity, Inclusion, and Care
Jay Shah said the continued growth of women’s cricket must be supported by opportunity, inclusion, and care at every stage of a player’s life and career. He added that the new guidelines are intended to help cricket boards create environments where female athletes can navigate pregnancy and return to cricket with greater confidence.
Women’s cricket remains one of the ICC’s six strategic priorities. Through its 100% Cricket programme, the governing body has continued investing in player wellbeing, health initiatives, participation growth, and talent development pathways across the sport.
The guidelines were developed under the leadership of Dr. Philippa Inge, a member of the ICC Medical Advisory Committee and team doctor for Australia, alongside contributions from medical and performance experts working across the women’s game.
Afy Fletcher’s Perspective
The ICC also highlighted West Indies spinner Afy Fletcher, who successfully returned to international cricket after becoming a mother and is currently competing at the highest level of the game. Fletcher welcomed the introduction of formal support measures and described the importance of having clearer guidance available for players navigating similar experiences.
She noted that while physical recovery presented challenges, balancing international cricket with family responsibilities created an entirely different set of demands. Her experience was highlighted by the ICC as an example of why structured maternity and return-to-play support is becoming increasingly important within professional sport.
The new guidelines now provide cricket boards with a clearer roadmap for supporting athletes through pregnancy and post-partum recovery. By combining medical guidance, recovery planning, childcare considerations, and ongoing monitoring, the ICC has introduced a more consistent approach to an area that has often depended on individual arrangements rather than a standardized framework.