Several players at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 have acknowledged the ICC’s Player Protection Program for minimizing any sort of online abuse towards women cricketers in the tournament.
The programme, delivered in partnership with Freedom2hear (formerly GoBubble), works with international cricketers to filter out harmful content across social media platforms. More than 100 female cricketers have signed up so far, with over 50 new registrations coming in before the tournament began. Seven of the 12 competing teams are currently covered, along with umpires and broadcasters.
ICC Tool Removes Thousands of Harmful Comments in First Week
In the first week of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 alone, the tool reviewed close to 250,000 comments and removed nearly 60,000 pieces of harmful content. Over 2,000 repeat offenders received temporary restrictions, and 370 accounts were blocked entirely.
The programme also extends its cover to official ICC social media accounts, offering a broader layer of protection beyond individual player profiles.
England wicket-keeper-batter Amy Jones was among those to speak about the impact. She said the programme addresses the toxicity that female athletes regularly face online, adding that while most fan interactions are positive, abuse from a minority makes the service necessary.
“We have a great relationship with the vast majority of our fans, and we love interacting with them in person and on social media,” Jones said. “But the downside is that there are people who choose to abuse you instead, so it is great that there are companies who are trying to clean things up and offer us some protection.”
Jones added that having the ICC’s full backing behind such a programme signals that player wellbeing is being taken seriously at the highest level.
India’s Radha Yadav Speaks on Social Media Toxicity
India spinner Radha Yadav also addressed the issue, pointing to the increasingly hostile environment on social media for women in sport. She said the platform, while useful for connecting with fans and family, has grown more difficult to navigate for female athletes.
“It’s important to talk about this openly and find solutions to the problem, which is why I signed up for the ICC Player Protection Programme,” Yadav said.
Her comments reflect a concern shared widely across the playing group, with several players noting that younger cricketers are particularly vulnerable given how actively they use social media.
Scotland’s Sarah Bryce Calls Programme a ‘Massive Difference’
Scotland wicket-keeper Sarah Bryce, who joined the programme during its first rollout ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, said it has brought meaningful change.
“It’s nice having that peace of mind because a lot of the players, the young players in particular, use social media a lot,” said Bryce. “It’s important we find ways to make social media as safe a place as possible, especially for the youngsters coming through who are probably more active on social media, and probably more susceptible to being affected by comments.”
The programme uses non-intrusive technology that lets players set their own content parameters in conjunction with Freedom2hear. Players can also join remotely at any point during the tournament. First launched ahead of the 2024 edition, it has since been rolled out across all ICC events.
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