The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has banned transgender women from participating in the top two tiers of women’s domestic cricket. It includes the women’s hundred competition as well.
This is similar to the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) policy from last year which prohibits anyone gone through male puberty from participating in women’s international cricket matches.
ECB stated that they reached this decision after consulting relevant science and medical evidence and considering fairness, safety and inclusion. The board also confirmed a new tier three of the domestic system which will welcome transgender women alongside recreational cricket from the next year.
All of this is after an admonition from the “disparity policy” which monitors anyone with appreciable strength, stamina/physique advantages with potential safety or fairness issues.
“Impossible to balance all considerations in Women’s Cricket”: England Cricket Board
The English Cricket Board said that it took considerable time to reach this policy position. “The ECB recognises that transgender participation is a complex area, with many strongly held views, and it is impossible to balance all the considerations.”
“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·
It is important to mention that transgender athletes are banned from participating in top competitions in women’s sports like swimming, cycling, athletics, rugby union and rugby league.
Before this new policy, the ECB allowed anyone who had a written clearance and identified as a female to participate in professional club and England pathway teams.
Nottingham Law School’s associate professor Dr Seema Patel said that the community and grassroots level has been incredibly positive in recognising the importance of participation.
Dr Patel was part of the Cricket Discipline Commission panel which looked in the Yorkshire Racism Scandal. She added, “Having extensively examined gender eligibility for 20 years, my research identifies that there is a trend· towards ineligibility for trans female athletes competing in the female category, based upon notions of biological advantage, safety and fairness.”
“However, there is inconsistency in the application of this approach and the effectiveness of a ban in the long term is not yet clear. During the consultation processes adopted by governing bodies, there needs to be true engagement of a diverse range of views beyond the science community to determine rule”, she further added.
Dr Seema Patel concluded with, “It is important to set regulatory boundaries but these need to be· considered alongside a shifting environment· where gender diversity is embedded within our society· and identity is evolving.