ICC Bans Trans Players From International Cricket: See New Rules

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday banned transgender cricketers from participating in women's cricket at the highest level. Transgender players who have been through any form of male puberty will be prohibited from competing in international women's games regardless of whether or not they have undergone surgery or gender reassignment treatment, The Guardian reported. 

The decision surfaced two months later when Canada's Daniella McGahey became the first transgender player to play in the international women's T20 fixture. Following ICC's new law, McGahey will no longer be able to participate in any women's international cricket tournaments. 

In a heartfelt post on social media, McGahey said she had no other option but to retire from international cricket after the ICC's ruling came through on Tuesday. 

Sharing her views on the ICC ruling and the messaging it sent to the transgender community, McGahey said, "While I hold my opinions on the ICC’s decision, they are irrelevant. What matters is the message being sent to millions of trans women today, a messaging say that we don’t belong. I promise I will not stop fighting for equality for us in our sport, we deserve the right to play cricket at the highest level, we are not a threat to the integrity or safety of the sport (sic)".

ICC Bans Transgender Players From International Women's Cricket:

On Tuesday, November 21, the International Cricket Council in a major policy decision banned transgender cricketers from participating in any of the international women's cricket tournaments, the highest levels of tournaments in the sport. After a nine-month consultation with cricket's stakeholders, the apex board finalised the new policy. 

As per the ICC's new policy, any player who has transitioned from male to female and has experienced any form of male puberty will be banned from any women's international games regardless of whether or not they underwent gender reassignment surgery or treatment. 

ICC's chief executive Geoff Allardice said that ICC made the changes to the gender eligibility criterion after an extensive consultation and research in science that aligned with the core principles of the ICC board. Allardice continued talking about the board's priority and how inclusivity is important to them but they prioritised protecting the integrity of women's sport and the safety of players. 

ICC in a press release mentioned the decision was based on following the crucial principles (in priority order) to protect the integrity of the women's sport, safety, fairness, and inclusivity.

However, a source said the force behind the new policy change was because of the sport's inclusion in the Olympics 2028 as the International Olympics Committee changed its regulations regarding the inclusion of transgender athletes and advised other sports to make suitable changes in their guidelines as well. 

The new rule also means that the first transgender cricketer, Canada's Daniella McGahey who played women's T20 fixture against Brazil in an international match just two months ago will no longer be eligible to participate in any of the international women's tournaments. 

The 29-year-old sportswoman moved from Australia to Canada in February 2020 and began to undergo a social transition from man to woman in November 2020. In May 2021, McGahey started her medical transition journey and was selected by Canada's Cricket Board as they said McGahey fulfilled ICC's policy. 

As of now, the gender eligibility regulations by the ICC board are just for international women's tournaments only and at domestic level tournaments of the sport, the decision lies in the hands of individual boards where the decision is impacted by local legislations, said by the ICC board. 

Transgendered athletes are also banned to participate in elite sports such as rugby, swimming, cycling, etc.

Suggested Reading: How Cricketer Glenn Maxwell And Pharmacist Vini Raman Found Each Other