Sachin Tendulkar has welcomed the ICC’s new pregnancy return-to-play framework for women cricketers, calling it a meaningful step forward for the growth of women’s cricket worldwide. On Monday, the ICC launched its “Return to Play Post-Pregnancy Guidelines”, a structured support system designed to help female players recover, rebuild fitness and return to competitive cricket safely after childbirth.

The pathway is built around a 16-week process and is divided into six stages: Ready, Review, Restore, Recondition, Return and Refine. Reacting to the development on X, Tendulkar praised the governing body for creating a framework that supports players through every stage of their careers.

“Exceptional batting by the @ICC,” Sachin Tendulkar wrote. “Empowerment in sport is about ensuring that a player’s journey, in all phases, is supported with the right framework,” he added.

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He also highlighted how important it is for women athletes to be able to balance motherhood and professional sport without being forced to choose one over the other.

“Seeing the transition from ‘choosing between’ to ‘doing both’ is proof that we are playing the game the right way,” Tendulkar said. “A massive boost for the future of women cricketers worldwide,” he added.

Exceptional batting by the @ICC. Empowerment in sport is about ensuring that a player’s journey, in all phases, is supported with the right framework.

Seeing the transition from ‘choosing between’ to ‘doing both’ is proof that we are playing the game the right way.

A massive… https://t.co/8nTdZdcL51

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) June 23, 2026

The ICC guidelines recommend assigning a dedicated Case Manager to oversee each player’s return after pregnancy. That role should ideally be handled by a doctor or physiotherapist.

The early stages of the programme focus heavily on psychological support, helping players adjust to motherhood while remaining connected to elite sport. From there, the process gradually moves into strength work, followed by monitored running and conditioning under medical supervision.

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Before a player is cleared to return to competitive cricket, the ICC says she must be assessed for symptoms such as musculoskeletal issues and pelvic floor concerns. The governing body said the framework has been designed to meet local legal requirements while placing player welfare, health and long-term support at the centre of the return process.