Transgender cricketer Danielle McGahey has decided to retire from international cricket following the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision to prohibit players who have experienced male puberty from participating in elite women’s games.
The ICC, citing a commitment to safeguarding the integrity and safety of women’s cricket, emphasized that the gender eligibility regulations were based on scientific considerations.
Statement from ICC Regarding Banning Transgenders
“The changes to the gender eligibility regulations resulted from an extensive consultation process and is founded in science and aligned with the core principles developed during the review.
“Inclusivity is incredibly important to us as a sport, but our priority was to protect the integrity of the international women’s game and the safety of players.”
READ MORE: ICC bans Transgender Women from Women’s Cricket
Transgender advocacy groups argue that such exclusions amount to discrimination, while critics contend that the physical advantages gained through male puberty persist despite transitioning.
McGahey, the first transgender player in an official international match, expressed disappointment on Instagram and pledged to continue advocating for transgender inclusion in women’s sports. The ICC’s ruling, applicable only at the international level, will undergo a review after two years.
After relocating from Australia to Canada in February 2020, 29-year-old cricketer Danielle McGahey, who had previously played grade cricket with men in Melbourne, expressed her commitment to advancing the campaign for transgender inclusion in women’s sports.
McGahey announced the end of her international cricket career on Instagram in response to the ICC’s new gender eligibility guidelines, assuring followers that she would persist in advocating for equality in cricket.
READ MORE: Transgender cricketer Danielle McGahey to play in WT20
Her message was, “Following the ICC’s decision this morning, it is with a very heavy heart that I must say that my international cricketing career is over,” she wrote.
“I promise I will not stop fighting for equality for us in our sport, we deserve the right to play cricket at the highest level, we are not a threat to the integrity or safety of the sport. Never stop fighting!”
Despite the setback, McGahey, the first transgender player in an official international match, reflected on her participation in Canada’s Women’s T20 World Cup Americas region qualifiers, where she scored 118 runs at an average of 19.67 but missed out on qualification as Canada finished second in the four-team event.
