WhatsApp Messaging Policy

Last updated: 9 May 2026

CricWa is an information service that delivers user-requested cricket match alerts on the WhatsApp Business Platform. This page describes exactly how we use WhatsApp, so users, Meta reviewers, and our Business Solution Provider (BSP) can verify that CricWa's use is fully compliant with the WhatsApp Business Policy, the WhatsApp Commerce Policy, and Meta's messaging guidelines.

1. What CricWa is, in one paragraph

CricWa is a paid information service for cricket fans in India. A user signs up on cricwa.com with their WhatsApp number, opts in via a START message on WhatsApp, and then receives only the live match events they have explicitly chosen, on the matches they have explicitly selected. There is no broadcast list, no marketing promo, and no third-party advertising. Every alert is the direct delivery of content the user asked for.

2. Opt-in flow (how users consent)

CricWa uses a double opt-in flow that satisfies WhatsApp's express opt-in requirements:

  1. Step 1 — Website opt-in. The user visits cricwa.com, enters their +91 WhatsApp number in the sign-up form, and clicks Get Started. The form discloses, immediately above the submit button, that submitting the number authorises CricWa to send alerts on WhatsApp. Country code, the linked Privacy Policy and Terms, and the cancel-anytime instruction are all visible at this step.
  2. Step 2 — WhatsApp confirmation. Within minutes, the CricWa WhatsApp sender messages the user with a session-opener template that explains the service and asks them to reply START. No further messages are sent until the user replies START. Replying START is the second, explicit, in-channel opt-in.
  3. Step 3 — Per-feature consent. The user then chooses match(es), preset, language, and team filters via interactive buttons. Alerts are only sent for those explicit choices. Changing any of these requires another explicit user action (CHANGE, LANG, etc.).

A user's phone number, their consent timestamp, the source page URL, and the IP address of the website opt-in are stored on our servers as proof of consent and made available to Meta or our BSP on request.

3. Message categories we send

CricWa uses only the following message categories under WhatsApp's template taxonomy. We do not send any "Marketing" template messages.

  • Utility templates (transactional). Examples: payment confirmation, subscription renewal reminder, payment failure notice, settings change confirmation, account-related operational messages.
  • Authentication templates. Not currently used; reserved for future account verification flows if introduced.
  • Service / session messages. Sent within the 24-hour customer-service window opened by a user reply (e.g. responses to HELP, CHANGE, STOP, or any free-text query the user sends). Live match alerts that are part of an ongoing user session are sent as service messages while the customer-service window is open; outside it, we use the corresponding utility template.

All templates we register with Meta describe a specific transactional event the user has subscribed to (e.g. "wicket alert", "match start", "payment receipt"). No template promotes another product, service, or third-party offer.

4. Sample templates

Representative templates we register for approval:

Name Category When sent Sample body
welcome_optin Utility After website sign-up; awaits START reply "Namaste! CricWa mein swagat hai. Cricket alerts shuru karne ke liye reply karein START. Reply STOP anytime to opt out."
match_alert_wicket Utility Wicket falls in a match the user has subscribed to "Wicket! {{1}} c {{2}} b {{3}} {{4}}({{5}}). {{6}} {{7}}/{{8}} in {{9}} overs."
match_end Utility End of a match the user has subscribed to "Match end. {{1}} won by {{2}}. POTM: {{3}} {{4}}({{5}})."
renewal_reminder Utility 2 days before a Razorpay subscription auto-debit "Reminder: ₹100 for CricWa Pro will be debited on {{1}} via {{2}}. Reply STOP to cancel before then."
payment_receipt Utility Successful payment "Payment received: ₹100 for CricWa Pro on {{1}}. Razorpay ID {{2}}. Reply INVOICE for tax invoice."
payment_failed Utility Auto-debit failure "Renewal payment failed for CricWa Pro on {{1}}. We will retry once. Reply HELP for options."

5. Message frequency

Per-user volume depends on the user's chosen preset and how many matches they subscribe to. Typical caps:

  • Headlines preset: 5–10 alerts per match.
  • Full match preset: 40–60 alerts per match.
  • Stats preset: 80+ alerts per match.
  • Operational messages (renewal reminder, payment receipt, settings confirmation): typically 1–3 per month, only when triggered by a real event.
  • Quiet hours: Users can set quiet hours; we hold non-critical alerts during those hours.

A user can lower the volume at any time by changing preset (reply CHANGE) or pausing (reply PAUSE), and stop completely with STOP. We monitor block/report rates per template and per match, and we suspend any template whose rate exceeds healthy thresholds.

6. What we don't do on WhatsApp

  • No marketing or promotional messages.
  • No third-party advertising, no affiliate offers, no betting tips, no fantasy-sport tips.
  • No purchased contact lists. Every recipient came through the website opt-in flow.
  • No outbound calls or voice notes.
  • No automated bulk forwarding to broadcast lists outside our approved templates.
  • No collection of payment instrument data inside WhatsApp. Payments happen on Razorpay's hosted checkout.

7. Opt-out flow

Users can opt out at any time and from any state of their account, with one of:

  • STOP — immediate opt-out, mandate cancellation, and no further messages.
  • PAUSE — 24-hour silence; resume by replying RESUME.
  • HELP — list of all commands and a one-tap STOP button.

STOP suppression is global — even template re-engagement is blocked once a user has sent STOP, until they explicitly send START again. This suppression list is honoured across all of CricWa's WhatsApp senders.

8. Sender identity

  • Display name: CricWa
  • Sender type: WhatsApp Business Platform (Cloud API or hosted, via a Meta-approved BSP)
  • Profile description: "CricWa — curated cricket alerts on WhatsApp."
  • Profile website: cricwa.com
  • Support address: [email protected]

We will pursue a green-tick (Official Business Account) once eligible, and will keep the sender profile, business website, and support email synchronised with this page.

9. Compliance with WhatsApp policies

CricWa's use of the WhatsApp Business Platform complies with:

  • The WhatsApp Business Policy — we operate a legitimate, lawful business with verifiable opt-in and we do not send prohibited content.
  • The WhatsApp Commerce Policy — CricWa does not sell prohibited goods or services. The only commerce activity is the user's optional ₹100/month subscription, which is collected on Razorpay (outside WhatsApp).
  • Meta's messaging limits and quality-rating guidance.
  • Indian law, including the IT Act and Rules and the DPDP Act, 2023. See our Privacy Policy for details.

10. Contact

For questions about CricWa's use of WhatsApp, including BSP and Meta review queries: [email protected]. We are happy to share consent logs, sample template renders, and the live opt-in flow on request.