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ECB To Ban Transgender Players To Play Elite-Level Women's Cricket

ECB to ban transgender players (Source: @ECB_cricket/x.com)ECB to ban transgender players (Source: @ECB_cricket/x.com)

In the latest news, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced a new policy that is banning transgender players from participating in elite-level women’s domestic cricket starting from 2025. 

Under this regulation, any player who has undergone male puberty will no longer be eligible to compete in the top two tiers of the women’s game, that also include prestigious competitions like the women's edition of The Hundred.

This decision aligns with the ICC policy, introduced in November 2023, which prohibits transgender women who have experienced male puberty from competing in international women’s matches.

ECB To Prohibit Transgender Players From Elite-Level 

The ECB's move brings consistency to the selection criteria for both international and domestic cricket in the upper level of England women's game. The board stated that the elite domestic structure exists primarily to produce future players.

In a formal statement, the ECB emphasized the extensive consultation process behind this policy, which involved considering a range of perspectives as well as scientific and medical evidence.

"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," the ECB said in a statement.

Why Has ECB Decided To Take This Step? 

However, transgender players will still be allowed to participate in the third tier of the domestic structure, which includes lower-level counties and recreational cricket. This measure aims to balance fairness in competitive, elite cricket with inclusivity at the grassroots level.

The ECB acknowledged that the ICC has committed to reviewing its rule within two years but has yet to indicate whether it would conduct a similar review once its regulations come into force. 

The detailed policy will be developed in consultation with stakeholders over the coming months and is expected to be fully implemented ahead of the 2025 domestic season.