ECB Introduces New Eligibility Policy for Transgender Athletes

Starting in 2025, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will implement a new policy that excludes transgender women who have undergone male puberty from competing in Tiers 1 and 2 of the women’s county competition and the women’s Hundred. This decision aligns the ECB’s eligibility rules with the policy adopted by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2023.

The ECB acknowledged in a statement that transgender participation is a "complex area" where it is difficult to balance all perspectives. However, it highlighted that player safety at the highest levels of competition was a key factor in the decision.

This policy shift comes ahead of the relaunch of women’s domestic cricket in 2025 and brings cricket in line with other elite sports in the UK, such as swimming, cycling, athletics, rugby league, and rugby union. Importantly, the new rules will not apply to grassroots cricket or Tier 3 of the county competition, which features teams from the national counties and will be subject to promotion and relegation starting in 2029.

The ECB stated that "considerable time" was taken to reach this conclusion, noting the difficulty in addressing all viewpoints. The board explained that the new policy aims to ensure fairness and safety in elite-level cricket while maintaining inclusivity at the recreational level, with safeguards in place to manage any disparities.

Under the previous policy, players who identified as female could compete in professional club teams and the England pathway program, provided they had written clearance. However, the ICC revised its eligibility criteria in November 2023 following a nine-month consultation, prioritising the integrity of the women’s game, safety, fairness, and inclusion.

One high-profile player impacted by these changes was Danielle McGahey of Canada, who participated in the ICC Women's T20 Americas Qualifier in 2023. Following the policy update, McGahey acknowledged that her international career had effectively ended.

The ECB added that after reviewing various opinions, scientific research, and medical evidence, they decided to align with the ICC’s approach for professional domestic cricket from 2025. The policy will be fully developed in consultation with stakeholders and is expected to be formally implemented for the 2025 season, covering both Tiers 1 and 2 of women’s domestic cricket as well as the women’s Hundred.