ECB update on transgender participation in women’s cricket
The ECB is today announcing a change to its regulations regarding eligibility for transgender players in women’s and girls’ cricket. This is based on the updated legal position following the recent Supreme Court ruling.
With immediate effect, only those whose biological sex is female will be eligible to play in women’s cricket and girls’ cricket matches. Transgender women and girls can continue playing in open and mixed cricket.
Our regulations for recreational cricket have always aimed at ensuring 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.
We acknowledge that this decision will have a significant impact on transgender women and girls. We will work with Recreational Cricket Boards to support people impacted by this change in our regulations.
We await updated guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and will study this carefully.
We maintain that abuse or discrimination has no place in our sport and are committed to ensuring that cricket is played in a spirit of respect and inclusivity.
Cornwall Cricket will adopt the new direction from the ECB.
That said, we wish to remind all who participate in the sport within the county that we aspire to be highly inclusive and that cricket will remain a sport within which anyone is welcome, regardless of their race, sex, age, sexuality, religion, ability, and/or gender identity.
The Cornwall Cricket League remains an open competition, within which anyone can continue to participate.
The women’s leagues will be open, however, only to those people assigned as female at birth. Clubs should still aspire to provide changing facilities that take account of the preferences of those participating.
If any clarity is required in individual cases, please reach out to our Cornwall Cricket Board team, notably Sarah Fox, contact card below
