India spinner Radha Yadav has welcomed the ICC’s Player Protection Programme, calling it an important step in tackling the growing problem of online abuse, as more than 100 women cricketers signed up for the initiative during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Developed in partnership with Freedom2hear, the programme helps shield international cricketers from harmful content on social media by filtering abusive comments and limiting interactions from repeat offenders.
“Social media can be an incredible way for me to connect with friends, family, and fans worldwide, but it has also become a more toxic space, especially for female athletes,” Radha said.
“It’s important to discuss this openly and find solutions, which is why I signed up for the ICC Player Protection Programme.”
The ICC revealed that more than 50 players enrolled in the programme ahead of the tournament, taking the total number of sign-ups during the event to over 100. The protection has also been extended to official ICC social media accounts, with players from seven of the 12 participating teams, along with umpires and broadcasters, now covered.
The initiative has already made a significant impact. After the opening week of the Women’s T20 World Cup, the moderation tool reviewed nearly 250,000 social media comments, filtering out almost 60,000 harmful posts. It also temporarily restricted more than 2,000 repeat offenders and blocked 370 accounts.
England wicketkeeper-batter Amy Jones said the programme offers much-needed support to players navigating the negative side of social media.
“It’s something we sadly have to face as international athletes in the public eye, and it can affect you negatively when you are just trying to play the game your best. We have a great relationship with most of our fans, and we enjoy interacting with them in person and online.
“But the downside is that some people choose to abuse you instead. It’s great that companies are working to clean things up and offer us some protection. For the ICC to fully support this kind of service is fantastic. This programme prioritises our wellbeing, and that’s a good thing,” she said.
The ICC first introduced the Player Protection Programme ahead of the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup as part of its wider player wellbeing and safeguarding strategy. Since then, it has been implemented across ICC events to help players engage with fans while reducing exposure to abusive online content.
Scotland wicketkeeper-batter Sarah Bryce, one of the programme’s early participants, said the initiative has made social media a safer space for players, particularly younger athletes.
“It’s nice to have that peace of mind because many players, especially young ones, use social media a lot.
“It’s important we find ways to make social media as safe as possible, especially for young athletes who are likely more active online and more vulnerable to negative comments. I think it’s extremely important, and it’s great the ICC is on board, giving all players the chance to have this protection,” Bryce said.