“What we’re aiming to do with this policy is allow Member nations to facilitate the return to cricket for their players,” Dr Inge said. “We know that many Members haven’t necessarily had these in the past, and the aim has been to make them adaptable for the unique environments in which our Members need to use them.”

Increased professionalisation has led to a rise in the number of women choosing to start families during their playing careers and returning to elite cricket after giving birth. While a number of countries have maternity policies in place and several players have returned to the international stage after giving birth, the guidelines are an attempt to provide ICC Members with a template to help their players.

Afy Fletcher,  West Indies’ 39-year-old legspinner currently playing at the T20 World Cup, gave birth to her son in 2021, and B8smah Maroof  took her baby daughter, Fatima, to the 2022 World Cup after making her return to the Pakistan side. Bismah retired in 2024 and has since given birth to a son.

New Zealand allrounder Amy Satterthwaite announced her international retirement in 2022 after being overlooked for a central contract, nearly two years after making her comeback for New Zealand after maternity leave.

Batter Lauren Down retired earlier this year after touring with New Zealand in 2024, six months after having a baby. Masabata Klaas, the South Africa seam bowler, isn’t part of their T20 World Cup squad but has played the majority of her international career as a mother to a daughter born in 2013.

India’s Sneha Deepthi was a mother to a toddler when she was picked up by Delhi Capitals for the inaugural WPL in 2023 and, while she was retained by them for the 2024 season, she didn’t play a game in the tournament.

Fletcher, who last year told Powerplay  about the challenges of juggling an international career with motherhood, described the move as “one of the best things they could have done for women’s cricket”.

“Physical recovery was challenging but, more than that, I struggled to leave my child and miss creating precious moments,” Fletcher said. “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.”

The ICC guidelines are based on a framework called “the 6 Rs” for “Ready, Review, Restore, Recondition, Return and Refine” covering early recovery after birth, medical and wellbeing reviews, gradual return to structured training, cricket-specific conditioning, return to play and ongoing monitoring.

These include 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.

“I think I tried my best, I think I should have played more responsible than this and if I have played more responsible than this today, we could have won this match today. So, I regret that. Especially I don’t like to blame anyone and I think I have more responsibility as a player, as the captain of the team and as a player with more experience.

“So, I’m very sad, I feel like I lost my last chance.”

Athapaththu is 36 and has played every T20 World Cup so far. The 11th edition will be in Pakistan in 2028. “For now, I can’t give any explanation about that, because with my age, now I’m 36 years old,” Chamari said about her playing the next T20 World Cup. “So, with fitness and all, that’s being decided. So, I try my best to keep my physical fitness in a good level, and to keep my skills in a high level.

“If the team wants, I will play in the future, but with my performance level and fitness level, it will be decided if I play or not.”

Sri Lanka’s last two Group 2 fixtures are against Ireland in Bristol on June 23 and against Scotland in Manchester on June 26.

(Cricinfo)