In a new development, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has banned trans women who have gone through male puberty from playing women’s cricket in England and Wales. This decision aligns with ICC’s policy which was implemented last year to ban trans women who have gone through a male puberty from playing professional cricket.
The ECB’s policy which was earlier implemented about allowing trans women to compete in women’s professional cricket. The International Cricket Council (ICC) gave a thumbs up to the ECB earlier on this rule noting that the instances would be assessed properly.
“Having considered wide-ranging views gathered during the consultation, as well as in consultations conducted during 2023, and the relevant science and medical evidence, the ECB has decided that from 2025 it will adopt the same approach as the ICC for women’s professional domestic cricket. This provides consistency, given that a primary purpose of the top end of the domestic structure is to produce international players.”
“The detailed policy will now be developed over the coming months, in consultation with stakeholders, and is due to be formally in place in time for the 2025 domestic season. It will apply to Tiers 1 and 2 of the new women’s domestic structure from 2025, as well as The Hundred Women’s competition,” as quoted by BBC
Although the ruling aligns the ECB with the ICC’s stance, it conflicts with other domestic boards’ policies. Although there are currently no restrictions on the age at which a transgender player must transition, Cricket Australia does stipulate that a trans woman must maintain a serum testosterone level of less than 10 nanomoles per liter for a minimum of 12 months in order to compete in women’s professional competitions.
ICC’s decision to ban trans women from playing elite-level cricket came after Canada’s Danielle McGahey became the first transgender cricketer to play at the international level.