Deepika Padukone welcomed the newly announced International Cricket Council (ICC) maternity return guidelines for female cricketers, calling it a “landmark moment for women in the sport.”The actress shared a report about the initiative on her Instagram Stories and praised the move, which is aimed at helping female athletes return to professional cricket after giving birth.
ICC announces support for cricketers returning after maternity leave
The new ICC policy includes a structured post-pregnancy return-to-play program. It offers medical and psychological support, recovery plans, flexible training schedules, childcare support, and facilities for mothers and babies.The initiative aims to ensure that female athletes do not have to choose between motherhood and their sports careers.
Deepika: spoke about the challenges in the workplace after becoming a mother
Last year, Deepika was at the center of conversations about working conditions in the film industry after reports said she demanded an eight-hour work shift after becoming a mother.The reports surfaced amid speculation about her association with Kalki 2. While Deepika did not directly address the reports, she later spoke about working conditions and pay parity in Bollywood during an interview with CNBC-TV18.“I do it on many levels; it’s not new for me. I think, even if it’s about the salary, I have to face whatever comes with it. I don’t even know what to call it, but I’m a person who always fights my battles in silence,” he said.He added, “And for some strange reason, sometimes they become public which is not the way I know and not the way I was raised.By supporting the ICC’s maternity return policy, Deepika is once again supporting measures that make it easier for women to balance their careers and motherhood.