The International Cricket Council (ICC) recently made a decision that bars transgender players and individuals who have undergone gender reassignment treatment from male to female from participating in international women's cricket. This ruling specifically applies to those who have experienced any form of male puberty, irrespective of any surgical procedures or gender reassignment treatments they may have undertaken.
This pivotal decision emerged after a thorough 9-month consultation process involving stakeholders in the sport. The new gender eligibility regulations, approved by the ICC Board, prioritize the safeguarding of the integrity of women's cricket, ensuring safety, fairness, and inclusion.
"The criteria dictate that any Male to Female participants who have undergone male puberty in any form will not meet the eligibility requirements for participation in international women’s cricket," stated the ICC in a release.
The review process, headed by the ICC Medical Advisory Committee chaired by Dr. Peter Harcourt, specifically focuses on gender eligibility for international women’s cricket. Gender eligibility within domestic cricket, however, remains subject to the regulations of individual Member Boards, potentially influenced by local legislation.
Additionally, the ICC highlighted plans for a review of these regulations within a span of two years to evaluate their efficacy and relevance.
Geoff Allardice, ICC Chief Executive, emphasized that these changes in gender eligibility regulations resulted from extensive consultations and are rooted in scientific considerations, aligning with the core principles established during the review. He underscored the importance of inclusivity in the sport while prioritizing the protection of the integrity and safety of international women’s cricket.
In a parallel effort toward inclusivity, the Chief Executives’ Committee (CEC) supported a comprehensive plan aimed at advancing female match officials. This initiative involves equalizing match day pay for ICC umpires across men's and women's cricket, ensuring parity, and ensuring the inclusion of at least one neutral umpire in every ICC Women’s Championship series starting from January 2024.
(With Agency Inputs)
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