The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced a new eligibility policy for transgender women in elite domestic cricket, aligning with the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) stance. Transgender women who have gone through male puberty will be excluded from Tiers 1 and 2 of the ECB’s new women’s county competition, as well as the women’s Hundred.
The ECB’s decision follows a nine-month consultation with stakeholders and a review of scientific and medical evidence. The board cited concerns about player safety at the elite level as the primary reason for the new policy.
“We want everyone to feel included and welcome in our sport, and believe the position reached strikes an appropriate balance by ensuring fairness in the elite game while ensuring inclusivity at a recreational level, with specific safeguards in place to manage disparities and ensure safety,” the ECB said in a statement.
The policy will not apply to the grassroots game or Tier 3 of the county competition, which will include teams from the ECB’s national counties. However, Tier 3 teams will be subject to promotion and relegation from higher tiers from 2029 onwards.
The ECB’s previous policy allowed any player who identified as female to compete in professional club and England pathway teams with written clearance. However, the ICC tightened its eligibility policy in November 2023, prioritizing the protection of the integrity of the women’s game, safety, fairness, and inclusion.
The most notable player affected by the rule change was Canada’s Danielle McGahey, who played in the ICC Women’s T20 Americas Qualifier in 2023 but later acknowledged that her career was over.
The ECB’s detailed policy will be developed in consultation with stakeholders over the coming months and will be formally in place for the 2025 domestic season.
