The England and Wales Cricket Board has announced that transgender women are no longer eligible to play in all levels of women’s cricket.
The ECB updated its transgender regulations to allow “only those whose biological sex is female” to play both girls’ and female cricket.
Transgender women and girls can continue playing in the open and mixed cricket categories, according to the ECB.
The policy change comes in response to a 16-page UK Supreme Court ruling that stated biological sex is the legal basis for a woman’s definition.
The ECB stated in a statement that “our regulations for recreational cricket have always aimed to ensure that cricket remains as inclusive as possible.”
“These included measures to manage disparities, regardless of a player’s gender, and preserve the enjoyment of all players.
We think the changes announced today are necessary in light of the new information received regarding the impact of the Supreme Court decision.
The ECB continued, “Than no place in our sport is there” and that it is “committed to ensuring cricket is” played in a spirit of respect and inclusion.”
What previous policy did the ECB have?
Transgender women were able to compete in the third tier of the home.
What other sports are there?
In response to the Supreme Court’s decision, The Football Association became the first major governing body for the sport to change its transgender eligibility standards on Thursday.
Later that day, England Netball made a change to its rules, removing transgender women from its female category.
The new regulations, which start effective on September 1st, recognize three distinct gender participation categories: male, mixed, and female.
Mixed netball will serve as the sport’s inclusive category, allowing players to complete their achievements regardless of gender, while the female category will be “exclusive for players born female, regardless of their gender identity”.
Transgender women were exempt from the female category last month by The Ultimate Pool Group (UPG), the professional body for eight-ball pool.
Other governing bodies are reviewing their transgender eligibility criteria, including the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA).
Transgender women taking part in women’s athletics, cycling, and aquatics are currently outlawed.
What has been the response?
The ECB should have consulted with transgender players before altering its policy, according to Amelia Short, a transgender cricketer for amateur side Lindow.
The ECB has not given us as transgender women the opportunity to claim that there isn’t much of an advantage. Short told BBC Sport, “We’re not doing the women’s game any injustice.”
They haven’t given us the chance to speak up.
“I’m pretty sure the opposition and the teams I’ve played women’s cricket for would vouch that I was playing for a team that I’ve played for because I’m a woman.”
I was neither the team’s fastest bowler nor its biggest hitter.
Sex Matters, the organization’s director of campaigns, claimed that the ECB’s previous policy was “never coherent” and “indefensible.”
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