ICC bans trans women cricketers
In a significant policy shift, the ICC has prohibited cricketers who have experienced any form of male puberty from participating in international women’s cricket, regardless of whether they have undergone surgery or gender reassignment treatment. The decision, made during the ICC Board meeting in Ahmedabad, aims to safeguard the integrity and safety of the women’s game. The move aligns with the sport’s inclusion in the 2028 Olympics, adhering to Olympic guidelines on gender eligibility.
The ICC’s new gender eligibility regulations prioritize the integrity of the women’s game, safety, fairness, and inclusion. This decision follows a nine-month consultation process with stakeholders in the sport. Similar policies have been implemented in other sports, such as World Athletics, which barred transgender women who underwent male puberty from competing in women’s events. The ICC’s regulations focus on international women’s cricket, while decisions at the domestic level are left to individual Member Boards, taking into account local legislation.
ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice emphasized that the decision was grounded in science and developed through extensive consultations. The regulations will undergo a review within two years. Additionally, the Chief Executives’ Committee endorsed plans to expedite the development of women match officials, ensuring equal match-day pay for ICC umpires in men’s and women’s cricket, along with the presence of one neutral umpire in every ICC Women’s Championship series from January next year.
