If a trans person has experienced male puberty, the International Cricket Council has prohibited them from participating in international women’s bowling.
The wealthy committee stated in a statement that it had made the decision to “protect the dignity of the global women’s cricket matches, security, fairness, and inclusion” following an in-depth scientific review and nine-month consultation.
According to the ICC statement, the new policy is based on the following guidelines ( in order of priority ): protection of the women’s game integrity, safety, justice, and addition. As a result, any male to female participants who have gone through any type of female menstruation will not be eligible to play in the global womens ‘ sport, regardless of any procedure or gender reassignment care they may have undergone. The review, which was overseen by the ICC Medical Advisory Committee under the direction of Dr. Peter Harcourt, focuses only on female eligibility for global women’s bowling, with local enrollment being a matter for each Member Board and potentially subject to local legislation. Within two decades, the laws will be reviewed.
With a lover center of 2.5 billion people worldwide, bowling is one of the most popular sports in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
In 1973, the ICC launched the second women’s World Cup. With a net worth of$ 2.25 billion, the Board of Control for Cricket in India is the richest cricket board in the world. The BCCI only earned$ 3.77 billion in 2023 from the Women’s Premier League season. In India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and other significant nations that play in global cricket matches, there is a sizable transgender people, but the new legislation change has backfired on the area.
Australian trans batsman Danielle McGahey declared after the ban went into effect that her job as a cricket player was over.
I must declare that my foreign football career is over in light of the ICC’s decision. On her Instagram page, McGahey wrote,” As quickly as it began, it has then stop. ” While I have my thoughts on the ICC’s ruling, they are unimportant. What matters is the message that” we do n’t belong” is being sent to millions of trans women today.
McGahey added that she will continue to fight for sporting justice.
When she played for Canada against Brazil in a T20 match, she became the first transgender cricketer to participate in an official foreign match. Before relocating to Canada in 2020, she recently played for people’s league cricket in Melbourne.
The Cricket statement confirms that each country can determine eligibility for trans cricketers in home games, despite the fact that the ban has dashed some hopes and dreams.
The BCCI of India was contacted by The Washington Blade for comment and comment regarding the prospects for transgender cricketers in India, but the panel did not respond right away.
Additionally, The Blade contacted the Southern African and Asian Cricket Boards, but neither organization responded. Sports Minister Anurag Thakur and former IPL head Rajiv Shukla were contacted by The Blade for comment, but both men declined to respond.
Kalki Subramaniam, a transgender activist, gay actor, and motivational speaker based in India, said,” It is very unfortunate and I am truly disappointed with the ICC’s choice, which is excluding trans people because when we talk about human rights or legitimate right, transgend individuals deserve to be in all parts of the society.” Trans individuals should participate in sports in particular. We are extremely disappointed to learn that the ICC has outlawed transgender citizens. That is unnecessary, and the ICC ought to examine its coverage. Why would the ICC recruit transgender people if the Indian army is considering ( or not ) doing so?
The ICC speech, according to Kalki, does not support the isolation, particularly of transgender women because it excludes them as a category of women.
Nilufer, a transgender activist who speaks to the Blade on behalf of the Mumbai-based Humsafar Trust, claimed that there is ongoing prejudice against transgender girls in athletics not only in India but also globally. She added that the ICC restrictions is biased against the community, not just against trans Indian cricketers but also against everyone else.
Ankush Kumar is a writer who has written extensively about Iran, India, and Singapore for the Washington and Los Angeles Blades. Lately, he contributed to the Daily Beast. He can be reached at [email protected ]. He is @mohitkopinion on Twitter.
