The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced that transgender women are banned from participating in all levels of women’s cricket with immediate effect.
The policy change follows a United Kingdom (UK) Supreme Court ruling on April 15, 2025, which stated that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex.
In a statement released to the public, the ECB indicated that the new measure would ensure that biological women compete in women’s cricket games to prevent controversies.
“Our regulations for recreational cricket have always aimed to ensure that cricket remains as inclusive a sport as possible. These included measures to manage disparities, irrespective of someone’s gender, and safeguard the enjoyment of all players.
“However, given the new advice received about the impact of the Supreme Court ruling, we believe the changes announced today are necessary,” the statement read, as shared by BBC Sport.
This decision comes after the English Football Association (FA) on May 1, 2025, barred transgender women from participating in women’s football in England, with the rule taking effect on June 1, 2025.
This marks a major shift in English sport, as concerns had been raised about transgender women competing in various sports competitions, citing health concerns.
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