“Who have been through any form of male puberty…,” ICC bans transgenders from playing international women’s cricket

ICC stated that transgender cricketers won't be eligible to take part in women's games even after undergoing surgery or gender reassignment.

“Who have been through any form of male puberty…,” ICC bans transgenders from playing international women’s cricket

ICC headquarter (Image via X)

On Tuesday, (November 11), the International Cricket Council (ICC) released a statement on the future of transpersons’ participation in cricket following their meeting after the 2023 ODI World Cup final. ICC stated that transgender cricketers won’t be eligible to take part in women’s games even after undergoing surgery or gender reassignment.

Those trans women who have undergone male puberty will be barred from playing women’s cricket. The ICC mulled over the issue for about nine months and talked with the sports’ stakeholders before coming up with this decision.

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The ICC mentioned that the reason behind this decision was to protect the integrity of the women’s game. The apex body also stated that the individual member boards will have the independence to make their own decision regarding this matter in the domestic circuit.

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.
ICC stated in a release.

Danielle McGahey became the first-ever transgender cricketer to play an international match

Canada’s Danielle McGahey became the first-ever transgender cricketer in the history of the sport to play an international match. In September this year, Canada locked horns with Brazil at the Woodley Park’s ground in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley. That match was part of the ICC T20 Americas qualifier for next year’s T20 World Cup.

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Danielle McGahey (Image via The Telegraph)

The Australian-born 29-year-old McGahey moved to Canada in February 2020 and started transitioning in 2021. She played her first match for the national side at the 2022 South African Championship in Brazil. McGahey had a disappointing international debut, for she scored just 13 runs from 23 balls before she was dismissed by Laura Cardoso. After ICC’s decision, she will no longer be able to play international matches.

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