ICC Player Protection Programme Signs Up More Than 100 Women Cricketers

More than 100 women cricketers have signed up for the ICC Player Protection Programme, which uses AI-powered moderator Freedom2hear to limit abuse on social media. The system has removed almost 60,000 harmful pieces of content during the ongoing T20 World Cup, the ICC said in London on Jun 26.

Over 50 new sign-ups were recorded at the start of the tournament here, according to the release. Seven of the 12 teams at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 are covered, while umpires and broadcasters are also registered. The service adds protection across official ICC social media accounts.

Programme figures

The tool reviewed nearly 250,000 comments after the first week of the T20 World Cup. It removed almost 60,000 harmful pieces of content, placed temporary restrictions on more than 2,000 repeat offenders, and blocked 370 users. The ICC said the programme is part of its wider work on player wellbeing and safeguarding.

India left-arm spinner Radha Yadav said growing toxicity on social media was a reason for joining the programme. “Social media can be such an amazing resource for me to interact with friends, family and fans all over the world, but it's also become an increasingly toxic space, especially for female athletes,” she said.

England wicketkeeper-batter Amy Jones, another protected player, said the programme has helped her deal with abuse online. “It is something that we sadly have to deal with as international athletes in the public eye, and it can have a negative effect on you when you are simply trying to play the game to the best of your ability,” she said.

Player views

Jones said players value their links with fans, but abuse remains a problem. Scotland's Sarah Bryce, who signed up in 2024, said the ICC Player Protection Programme has “made a massive difference”. She added that it gives peace of mind, especially for young players who use social media often.

The programme was first introduced before the 2024 women's T20 World Cup and has been run across all ICC events since then. The ICC said it helps participants engage with fans with more confidence while lowering exposure to harmful online content.