More than 100 women cricketers, including India spinner Radha Yadav, have signed up for the ICC Player Protection Programme during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026, praising the initiative as a vital safeguard against escalating online abuse targeting female athletes. The programme, developed in partnership with Freedom2hear, filters harmful comments and restricts repeat offenders across social media platforms.

Scale of the Problem

The numbers underscore just how severe the online abuse problem has become. Within the first week of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026, the tool reviewed nearly 250,000 comments and removed close to 60,000 harmful pieces of content. More than 2,000 repeat offenders had temporary restrictions placed on their interactions, and 370 users were blocked entirely.

There were over 50 new sign-ups before the tournament began, with seven of the 12 competing teams now covered. Umpires and broadcasters are also registered under the scheme, extending its protective reach beyond players alone.

What Players Are Saying

Radha Yadav described social media as a space that has grown increasingly hostile, particularly for female athletes. 'Social media can be an incredible way for me to connect with friends, family, and fans worldwide, but it has also become a more toxic space, especially for female athletes,' she said. 'It's important to discuss this openly and find solutions, which is why I signed up for the ICC Player Protection Programme.'

England wicketkeeper-batter Amy Jones acknowledged the psychological toll of online abuse on players trying to perform at the highest level. 'It's something we sadly have to face as international athletes in the public eye, and it can affect you negatively when you are just trying to play the game your best,' Jones said. She welcomed the ICC's institutional support: 'This program prioritises our wellbeing, and that's a good thing.'

Scotland wicketkeeper-batter Sarah Bryce, one of the programme's earliest participants, highlighted its particular importance for younger athletes. 'It's important we find ways to make social media as safe as possible, especially for young athletes who are likely more active online and more vulnerable to negative comments,' Bryce said.

Background and Reach

The ICC first launched the Player Protection Programme ahead of the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup, positioning it as a core pillar of its player wellbeing and safeguarding strategy. Since then, it has been active across all ICC events, enabling participants to engage with fans while limiting exposure to harmful content. The additional protection layer also extends to official ICC social media accounts, providing a broader shield across the tournament's digital footprint.

This is the second successive Women's T20 World Cup at which the programme has operated, and the significant jump in sign-ups — alongside the volume of content moderated — suggests both growing awareness among players and a worsening online environment.

What Comes Next

With the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 ongoing, the programme is expected to continue moderating content in real time throughout the tournament. The ICC has indicated this initiative forms part of a wider, long-term commitment to safeguarding, with the scale of the current rollout likely to inform how the programme is expanded at future events.