ECB update on transgender participation policy

Following an extensive consultation, the ECB Board has agreed an updated policy position in relation to transgender participation in women’s professional cricket.

In reaching its conclusions, the ECB has considered the interaction between fairness, safety and inclusion, all of which are considered important.

The consultation process was extended last year following the decision of the International Cricket Commission (ICC) to move to a model whereby eligibility for women’s international cricket will be determined by whether an individual has undergone male puberty.

Having considered wide-ranging views gathered during the consultation, as well as in consultations conducted during 2023, and the relevant science and medical evidence, the ECB has decided that from 2025 it will adopt the same approach as the ICC for women’s professional domestic cricket. This provides consistency, given that a primary purpose of the top end of the domestic structure is to produce international players.

The detailed policy will now be developed over the coming months, in consultation with stakeholders, and is due to be formally in place in time for the 2025 domestic season. It will apply to Tiers 1 and 2 of the new women’s domestic structure from 2025, as well as The Hundred Women’s competition.

The ECB is striving to become the most inclusive team sport, and recreational cricket and Tier 3 of the domestic structure – which comprises National Counties – will continue to use the existing social model, where individuals are accepted in the gender they identify as. A Disparity Policy is already in place to ensure safety whereby clubs and leagues across the country are able to address the disparity between players participating in a match well above or below their ability where there is a concern that a serious injury could occur, irrespective of their gender.

Considerable time has been taken 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.