Cricket's Gender Rules Tightened by ICC Decision

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has enacted a regulation that prohibits transgender persons from playing international women's cricket. The resolution, which was voted at the most recent ICC Board meeting in India, underscores the organization's commitment to safeguarding the integrity of the women's game, with a focus on safety, fairness, and inclusivity.

According to an official ICC statement, the newly enforced rule specifically targets Male to Female athletes who have had any type of male puberty, rendering them ineligible for international women's cricket, regardless of surgeries or gender reassignment treatments.

The decision comes after the ICC Medical Advisory Committee, chaired by Dr. Peter Harcourt, conducted a detailed investigation of gender eligibility in international women's cricket. Domestic-level gender eligibility will continue to be established at the discretion of individual Member Boards, with local legislation having an impact. Within two years, the proposed regulations will be extensively examined.

Geoff Allardice, Chief Executive of the ICC, emphasized that the revisions to gender eligibility standards were the result of extensive consultation and are based on research that is compatible with key principles found throughout the review. The ICC's objective is to preserve the sport's purity while adhering to current values and scientific understanding, which is a significant step forward in resolving gender-related issues in cricket.