ICC Bans Transgender Players From International Women’s Cricket

In a major policy decision, The International Cricket Council (ICC) banned transgender cricketers from participating in women’s cricket at the highest level. Transgender players who have been through any form...

Ruby Thakur
November 23, 2023
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In a major policy decision, The International Cricket Council (ICC) 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.

ICC Bans Transgender Players From International Women’s Cricket

Why In News

In a major policy decision, The International Cricket Council (ICC) 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.

Danielle McGahey

The new rule means that Danielle Mcgahey, who became the first transgender cricketer, would not be able to take part in women’s international cricket anymore.
McGahey played six WT20Is for Canada back in September 2023 in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Americas Region Qualifier. The 29-year-old scored 118 runs at an average of 19.66 with a top score of 48 against Brazil Women.

ICC Statement

In a statement, the ICC said, “The ICC Board approved new gender eligibility regulations for the international game following a nine-month consultation process with the sport’s stakeholders.
“The new policy is based on the following principles (in order of priority), protection of the integrity of the women’s game, safety, fairness and inclusion, and this means any Male to Female participants 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 or gender reassignment treatment they may have undertaken.”

Asked what was the trigger for ICC to bring about this change, ICC said it was due to “cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 Olympics.”

“Since cricket will be an Olympic sport, it has to be governed by the Olympic guidelines. This gender issue is a huge one at global level.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has changed regulations and advised sports to implement regulations that are suitable for their sport, which is what we have done,”.

Other Sports

World Athletic (WA), the governing body for track and field and other running competitions, had also barred transgender women, who went through male puberty, from competing in women’s events at international competitions.

World governing bodies for cycling (UCI) and swimming (FINA) had also introduced the same regulation in their sport while World Rugby has an outright ban on trans women in international women’s rugby.

Reaction

“This unfortunate circumstance has prompted to investigate pursuing a case of discrimination, as I believe it represents a breach of the code of conduct regarding diversity and inclusion. It Is also a breach of Rights Of Athlete.
McGahey expressed her disappointment at the decision.
She wrote in an post, “Following the ICC’s decision, it is with a very heavy heart that I must say that my international cricketing career is over. As quickly as it has begun, it must now end.”
According to her, it is a step back towards achieving inclusivity in the game and despite the ruling, she would not stop her fight to promote equality in the game.

“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 saying 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. Never stop fighting!” she concluded.

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Ruby Thakur

General Studies Lecturer SSBCrackExams, BSc In PCM, Trained Students For State Services Exams. Expertise in Geography ,Polity & Current Affairs. Love Travelling.