India spinner Radha Yadav and other international cricketers have commended the ICC’s Player Protection Programme, citing its importance in addressing the rising toxicity on social media. Over 100 women cricketers enrolled in the initiative during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. The program, developed in collaboration with Freedom2hear, aims to shield cricketers from abusive content by filtering harmful remarks and restricting repeat offenders on social platforms.
The initiative garnered more than 50 new registrations before the commencement of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. It extends additional safeguards on official ICC social media accounts. Seven out of the 12 teams participating in the event are covered by the program, which also includes registration for umpires and broadcasters.
Following the first week of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, the tool analyzed close to 250,000 comments, leading to the removal of nearly 60,000 harmful pieces of content. Temporary restrictions were imposed on over 2,000 repeat offenders, and 370 users were blocked from interactions. England’s wicketkeeper-batter Amy Jones emphasized the program’s role in assisting players in managing the negative aspects of social media, acknowledging the challenges faced by athletes in the public eye.
The ICC introduced the Player Protection Programme ahead of the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup as a vital element of its broader strategy for player well-being and protection. Since its inception, the program has been implemented in all ICC events, empowering participants to engage securely with fans while minimizing exposure to harmful online material. Scotland’s wicketkeeper-batter Sarah Bryce, an early adopter of the program, highlighted the positive impact it has had on players’ online experiences, particularly emphasizing the importance of creating a safe social media environment, especially for young athletes.
