After many months of deliberation, the ICC made a controversial ruling to ban transgender women from international women’s cricket. The ICC cited the integrity of women’s games and safety of players as reasons for the ban. This ban applies to international games, however domestic teams can implement their own policies.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) said on November 21st it had taken the decision to ban transgender women from participating in international cricket competitions following an extensive scientific review and nine-month consultation, and that the purpose is to protect the integrity of the international women’s game and the safety of players.
This new ban means that any transgender cricketers who have been through any form of male puberty will not be eligible to participate in the international women’s game, regardless of any surgery, hormones, or gender reassignment treatments they may have undergone. Previous ICC regulations used to allow participation based on reduced testosterone levels.
Cricket is a sport that is mainly popular in countries such as India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, South Africa, to name a few. Cricket is the second-most watched sport in the world behind football (soccer).
The topic of transgender athletes and their participation is a topic that is debated in different sports committees worldwide. Regulations vary by country and sport, but the topic of transgender women in sports is especially contested, often citing hormonal and body mass advantages that people born biologically male may have over those who are born biologically female.
The ICC’s CEO, 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.”
This new regulation comes just two months after Danielle McGahey, an Australian-born cricketer on Canada’s national team, caused controversy by becoming the first transgender cricketer to take part in an official international match during a women’s T20 match against Brazil.
The new ban, which was led by the ICC medical advisory committee, applies solely to international women’s cricket. Individual countries will be allowed to have their own policies for their teams and domestic games.
The England and Wales Cricket Board said it will consider how the new ICC regulations affect their own policy. A spokesperson said, “We continue to review our transgender policy, considering inclusivity, safety and fairness, and will consider these new ICC regulations as part of this work.”
Cricket is now alongside other women’s sports, which include athletics, swimming, cycling, and rugby, who have ruled over the past 18 months that transgender women who have gone through male puberty should not compete with those who are born biologically female.
This new regulation will go through another review in 2 years.
