In a comment, the ECB said the transgender factor was a “complex area” in which it was “impossible to balance all considerations” but cited issues over the protection of players at the elite level of the game to explain its intact position. . .
The explanation comes ahead of the relaunch of women’s cricket at home in 2025 and equates the English sport with other elite sports in the UK, such as swimming, cycling, athletics, rugby league and rugby union.
The policy, on the other hand, will not extend to grassroots sport, nor to level 3 of the county tournament, which at this level will include teams from the ECB’s national (previously minor) counties, but which will be a matter of promotion. and decline from higher levels starting in 2029.
“It has taken considerable time to reach this policy position,” the board mentioned in its comment. “The ECB recognizes that transgender participation is a complex area, with many firmly held opinions, and it is impossible to balance all considerations.
“We want everyone to feel incorporated and welcome in our game, and we consider that the location reached generates an acceptable balance by guaranteeing equity within the present elite sport, guaranteeing inclusion at the entertainment level, with explicit safeguards for the supremacy of the disparities and safeguard protection.”
Previous ECB policy had allowed any player who identified as female to compete for professional clubs and teams in England, as long as they had written permission.
In November 2023, the ICC tightened its eligibility policy following a nine-month consultation with its stakeholders and stated that it had based its conclusions (in order of priority) on “covering the integrity of women’s sport, protection, fairness and inclusion”.
The ECB added: “Having thought about the broad insights accumulated throughout the session, in addition to the consultations carried out throughout 2023, and the related scientific and clinical evidence, the ECB has decided that from 2025 it will adopt a method similar to ICC for local professional girls cricket. This offers consistency as the main goal of home building design is to develop avid global players.
“The detailed policy will now be developed over the coming months, in consultation with stakeholders, and formally implemented in time for the 2025 national season. It will apply to Tiers 1 and 2 of the new women’s national structure from 2025. ., as well as the Hundred Women competition.”
