The International Cricket Council has launched new Return to Play Post-Pregnancy Guidelines for female cricketers, giving players, boards, coaches and medical staff a clearer framework for safe comebacks after childbirth.
The governing body announced the guidance on Monday, June 22, during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup window, where players such as India captain Harmanpreet Kaur remain central to the sport’s global visibility.
The ICC says the guidelines are designed to help Members build pregnancy and return-to-play policies in line with local law, while adding practical, physical and psychological support for player welfare, according to the ICC’s official media release.
Why the ICC guidance matters for women’s cricket
The move is significant because the women’s game is becoming more professional, more visible and more demanding. As careers lengthen, boards are under greater pressure to give players a route back that is medically informed rather than improvised.
The ICC’s framework covers the period after pregnancy rather than simply treating availability as a selection issue. That matters for contracted players, national boards and domestic teams trying to balance elite performance with long-term health.
It also gives cricket a common reference point at a time when maternity policy can vary widely between countries. For players returning after childbirth, the new guidance should make conversations around training load, rehabilitation and match readiness more structured.
