Motherhood poses significant challenges for women cricketers in Bangladesh, with the absence of a formal maternity policy and insufficient institutional support threatening their careers and livelihoods. This issue has come to light through the experiences of former national player Suraiya Azmin, who in May requested paid maternity leave from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) but received no response. After giving birth in August 2026, Suraiya was removed from the national contract list, with her unpaid salary and leave request remaining unresolved.
Suraiya’s situation is not unique. Former national batter Sanjida Islam Moyna, who represented Bangladesh in 16 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 54 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) between 2012 and 2020, also faced difficulties balancing motherhood and cricket. Although she continued to compete domestically after her marriage in 2020, she ultimately stepped away from the sport following the birth of her child in 2025. Similarly, international umpire and former cricketer Sathira Jakir Jessy has struggled to manage motherhood alongside her involvement in cricket.
According to Sanjida, cricket officials and selectors often presume that married players or those with children will have brief careers, leading to a reluctance to invest in their development or contract renewals. This mindset undermines the careers of women players and risks squandering the talent and experience cultivated by the country’s cricket system.
In contrast, other cricketing nations have implemented supportive measures for parenthood. Australia and New Zealand offer paid maternity leave to contracted female players, and Pakistan introduced a parental support policy in 2021. These initiatives demonstrate that accommodating motherhood need not compromise professional cricket careers.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has recently issued return-to-play guidelines for female cricketers after pregnancy. These address medical evaluation, recovery, gradual retraining, and monitoring but stop short of mandating paid leave. This gap underscores the need for national boards, including the BCB, to develop comprehensive maternity policies.
While the BCB has pledged to adhere to ICC guidelines, handling maternity cases individually remains insufficient. Advocates are calling on the BCB to formalize a clear maternity policy that guarantees paid leave, preserves contracts and salaries during pregnancy and postpartum recovery, and offers medical support and fitness assessments to facilitate players’ return to competition. Transparent procedures for contract renewal and team selection are also necessary to ensure that marriage or motherhood does not become a barrier to continued participation.
Such protections should also be extended to women involved in cricket beyond players, including coaches and match officials, to prevent career disruption due to lack of maternity support. In Suraiya Azmin’s case, there is particular urgency for the BCB to resolve outstanding payments and clarify her contractual status to address longstanding grievances.