In collaboration with AI-powered moderator Freedom2hear, which has removed around 60,000 “harmful pieces of content” during the current T20 World Cup, more than 100 female cricket players have joined the ICC Player Protection Programme to “silence trolls on social media platforms.”
According to a release from the ICC, more than fifty fresh sign-ups were registered at the beginning of the competition.
“…while the service provides additional protection across official ICC social media accounts. Seven of the 12 teams competing at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 are protected, with umpires and broadcasters also registered,” the statement read.
The tool examined approximately 250,000 comments and eliminated roughly 60,000 offensive items throughout the first week of the T20 World Cup.
“More than 2,000 repeat offenders had temporary restrictions put on their interactions, and 370 users were blocked.”
Indian left-arm spinner Radha Yadav stated that she joined the program because of the increasing “toxicity” of social media.
“Social media can be such an amazing resource for me to interact with friends, family and fans all over the world, but it’s also become an increasingly toxic space, especially 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,” said Yadav.
Amy Jones, an England batter and wicketkeeper, is another protected player. She also stated that the program has assisted her in coping with some of the abuse she has received on social media.
“It is something that we sadly have to deal with as international athletes in the public eye, and it can have a negative effect on you when you are simply trying to play the game to the best of your ability,” she said.
“We have a great relationship with the vast majority of our fans, and we love interacting with them in person and on social media…But the downside is that there are people who choose to abuse you instead. And for the ICC to be fully supportive in providing this kind of service is fantastic. It is a programme that puts our wellbeing at the forefront, and that is a good thing.”
The initiative, which was first unveiled before to the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup, is an essential part of the ICC’s “wider approach to player wellbeing and safeguarding.” Since then, the technique has been implemented at every ICC event, assisting participants in interacting with fans in a confident manner while limiting their exposure to dangerous internet content.
Sarah Bryce of Scotland stated that the ICC Player Protection Programme has “made a massive difference” after enrolling in it in 2024.
“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.
