Overview
- The International Cricket Council published the Return to Play Post‑Pregnancy Guidelines on June 22, 2026, as a template for Member Boards to support female players through pregnancy and return to elite cricket.
- The document centres on a six‑stage '6 Rs' medical roadmap — Ready, Review, Restore, Recondition, Return and Refine — that maps recovery, staged conditioning and ongoing monitoring before competitive reintegration.
- Practical recommendations include assigning each player a dedicated case manager, multidisciplinary medical reviews, flexible training, childcare and designated feeding spaces at venues, and travel support for caregivers.
- The guidelines stress player autonomy by saying pregnancy disclosure is the player’s choice, recommend (but do not require) stepping away from competition by the end of the first trimester, and leave final return decisions to the player and medical team.
- The ICC released the guidance as non‑binding and adaptable to local law, so it does not mandate paid leave or sponsorship protections and its real‑world effect will depend on individual boards’ policies and resources.