LAHORE – Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Tuesday announced its ParentalSupport Policy targeted to motivate and champion professional cricketers intheir journey to parenthood – throughout pregnancy and even afterchildbirth when they return to play and are required to balance theirparental responsibilities with the demands of their cricketing career.

Under the newly introduced policy, women and men players have been grantedvarious rights that they are respectively entitled to avail during thepregnancy and upon the birth of their child.

Included within the policy is the option for women cricketers to transferto a non-playing role until commencement of their maternity leave leadingup to the birth of their child.

Women cricketers are also entitled to take up to 12 months of paidmaternity leave and will be guaranteed a contract extension for thefollowing year, in line with their existing contractual arrangements as thePCB believes that a player’s right to pursue the game on a professionallevel should not be limited because of their pregnancy or responsibilitiesas a new parent.

Upon conclusion of the maternity leave, the player will be reintegratedinto cricketing activities and provided adequate medical and physicalsupport in respect of their post-childbirth rehabilitation.

Similarly, if a woman player is required to travel for cricketingactivities, the PCB will support the player by allowing her to travel witha support person of her choice to assist in caring for her infant child,with the travel and accommodation costs to be shared equally.

Men cricketers, who are expectant or new fathers, will also be entitled toup to 30 days of fully paid leave, which will need to be taken within 56days of the birth of their child, as part of the paternity rights coveredunder the Policy.

PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan: “The PCB has a duty of care towards itscricketers and at every turn it has taken measures to support them. In thisrelation, it is appropriate that we have a player-friendly parental supportpolicy so that our professional cricketers can feel fully supported duringan important stage in their lives, without worrying about their careers.

“To have this policy for our women cricketers was even more significant.Women play a pivotal role in the development of a society and our womencricketers have brought us laurels and recognition at the world stage.

“Now that we have maternity leave policy, I am hopeful that it will attractmore women and girls to take up the sport as this will help them strike thecrucial work-life balance.”