The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday, 22 June released its Return to Play Post-Pregnancy Guidelines, providing female cricketers, member boards, and medical staff a structured framework to support players resuming competitive cricket after childbirth. The guidelines, developed under the ICC's 100% Cricket initiative, are designed to make clear that motherhood and a professional cricket career need not be mutually exclusive.

The Six-Step '6 Rs' Framework

At the core of the guidelines is a six-step pathway called the '6 Rs': Ready, Review, Restore, Recondition, Return, and Refine. The framework covers the full arc of a player's journey — from initial recovery and medical review, through gradual training and cricket-specific conditioning, to competitive return and ongoing monitoring. The ICC described the pathway as adaptable to the varying environments and resources of its member nations.

The guidelines also recommend appointing a dedicated case manager — typically a doctor or physiotherapist — to serve as the primary point of contact throughout a player's pregnancy and return to the field. The case manager is responsible for coordinating support services, overseeing periodic reviews, and keeping all decisions centred on the well-being of both the mother and the child.

What the Guidelines Recommend

The ICC document calls for regular player management meetings at key stages: the initial pregnancy announcement, the third trimester, six to eight weeks post-childbirth, and at four-week intervals once reintegration into the cricket environment begins. A multidisciplinary support team — spanning medical staff, physiotherapists, strength and conditioning coaches, psychologists, dieticians, coaches, and family support networks — is also recommended.

On privacy, the ICC was explicit: the decision to announce a pregnancy rests entirely with the player, and member boards should not mandate pregnancy testing. While the guidelines encourage continued exercise during pregnancy, all training and competition decisions must be individualised and made in consultation with medical professionals. The document recommends players cease competing after the first trimester, though it stresses there is no fixed gestational age at which participation must end — such calls are to be made collectively by the player, her treating doctors, and the board's medical staff.

What Medical Experts Said

Dr Philippa Inge, Australia team doctor and a member of the ICC Medical Advisory Committee, said the guidelines are 'designed to show players that having a baby doesn't need to be the end of their career.' She added that the aim is to allow member nations to facilitate the return to cricket for their players, noting that the guidelines 'serve as a template for Members' and that 'strong support for an athlete returning to cricket post-pregnancy needs to be individualised to the specific needs of them and their family.'

A Player's Perspective

West Indies leg-spinner Afy Fletcher, who returned to international cricket after giving birth to her son in 2021 and is currently playing in the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup in England and Wales, welcomed the move. 'I think it's really good that the ICC is giving cricket boards policies to look after women after pregnancy,' Fletcher said. 'It gives you a chance to have your family and then return, so I think that's one of the best things they could have done for women's cricket.'

Fletcher also spoke candidly about her own experience: 'Physical recovery was challenging; more than that, I struggled to leave my child and miss creating precious moments. That's why every moment I play on the field is driven by him. Every player's journey is different, but you have to have strong support, get healthy, and trust the process.'

Practical Support and What's Next

Beyond the medical framework, the guidelines outline practical support measures including flexible training environments, continued access to facilities and services, childcare advice, suitable spaces for feeding or caring for babies at playing venues, and travel support where possible. An ICC spokesperson said the growth of women's cricket 'must be matched by the environments we create around our players,' adding that the guidelines aim to 'help Member Boards support informed choices, protect player welfare and retain more outstanding talent in the game.' The release comes amid a growing number of female cricketers choosing to start families mid-career and subsequently returning to elite competition.