In a significant policy change, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has banned transgender women from playing international women’s cricket, stating that transgender women who have undergone male puberty are now ineligible to participate in international women’s cricket, as per new regulations. This decision comes after Canada’s Danielle McGahey made history as the first transgender cricketer in an official international match in September.
The ICC emphasized that these rules, effective immediately, will undergo a review within two years. The governing body highlighted that the policy, developed over a nine-month consultation, prioritizes the “integrity of the women’s game, safety, fairness, and inclusion.”
ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice stated, “Inclusivity is incredibly important to us as a sport, but our priority was to protect the integrity of the international women’s game and the safety of players.”
In domestic cricket, gender eligibility will be handled individually by each board. Currently, trans women seeking entry into elite female-only competitions in England and Wales Cricket Board-regulated matches must obtain written approval, with each case examined on an individual basis.
Similar decisions have been observed in other sports. In June 2022, Fina, the swimming governing body, rejected allowing transgender athletes who experienced male puberty to compete in elite women’s races. The UCI, cycling’s governing body, extended the waiting period for transitioning riders from male to female before entering competitions. In July 2022, both the Rugby Football League and the Rugby Football Union banned transgender women from female-only versions of their games.
