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LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today (Tuesday) announced its Parental Support Policy, which will allow players – women and men – to get paid leave during periods of pregnancy and upon the birth of a child.
The PCB issued a detailed statement explaining what benefits are included in the policy. Women cricketers have the option to transfer to a non-playing role until commencement of maternity leave leading up to the birth of their child.
Women cricketers can take up to 12 months of paid maternity leave and will be guaranteed a contract extension for the following year, in line with their existing contractual arrangements.
PCB will allow a woman player travelling for cricketing activities to travel with a support person of her choice to assist in caring for her infant child, with the travel and accommodation costs to be shared equally.
Men cricketers, who are expectant or new fathers, will be entitled to up to 30 days of fully paid leave, which will need to be taken within 56 days of the birth of their child.
“The PCB has a duty of care towards its cricketers and, at every turn, it has taken measures to support them,” Wasim Khan, the PCB chief executive officer, said. “In this relation, it is appropriate that we have a player-friendly parental support policy so that our professional cricketers can feel fully supported during an important stage in their lives, without worrying about their careers,” he added.
“Now that we have maternity leave policy, I am hopeful that it will attract more women and girls to take up the sport as this will help them strike the crucial work-life balance,” he concluded.
