Deepika Padukone hails ICC’s maternity comeback policy as ‘landmark moment for women in sport’ amid debate over 8-hour shift

Deepika Padukone has welcomed the recently announced International Cricket Council (ICC) guidelines on the return of motherhood for women cricketers, calling it a “historic moment for women in sport”.The actress shared a report about the initiative on her Instagram stories and praised the move which aims to help female athletes return to professional cricket after giving birth.

ICC announces support for cricketers returning after motherhood

The ICC’s new policy includes a structured return-to-playing program after pregnancy. It offers medical and psychological support, recovery plans, flexible training schedules, child care support, and facilities for mothers and children.The initiative aims to ensure that female athletes do not have to choose between motherhood and their sporting career.

Deepika She spoke about the challenges of the workplace after motherhood

Last year, Deepika was at the center of conversations about working conditions in the film industry after reports claimed she sought an eight-hour shift post motherhood.The reports surfaced amid speculation about her association with Kalki 2. While Deepika did not directly address the reports, she later spoke about workplace conditions and pay parity in Bollywood during an interview with CNBC-TV18.“I’ve done it on so many levels, and this is nothing new to me. I think even with pay, I’ve had to deal with everything that comes with it. I don’t even know what to call it, but I’m someone who’s always fought my battles silently,” she said.

She added, “And for some strange reason, sometimes they become public, and that’s not the way I know it and that’s not the way I was raised. But yes, fighting my battles silently and in a dignified way is the way I know how.” By supporting the ICC’s Return to Motherhood Policy, Deepika once again supported measures that make it easier for women to balance their careers and motherhood.