Women's Cricket
ECB bars transgender women from Women's Cricket; Anaya Bangar responds
The England and Wales Cricket Board has updated its transgender participation policy, barring trans women from all levels of women’s cricket.
Anaya Bangar (Photo credit: Anaya/IG)
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced a new policy that bars transgender women from participating in all levels of women’s cricket in England, including recreational and grassroots cricket.
The decision, effective immediately, comes in light of a recent UK Supreme Court ruling which defined the legal term “woman” based on biological sex.
Under the updated regulations, only those whose biological sex is female will be eligible to play in women’s and girls’ cricket competitions. Transgender women and girls will still be permitted to participate in open and mixed-gender categories.
In a statement, the ECB said:
“Our regulations for recreational cricket have always aimed at ensuring that cricket remains as inclusive a sport as possible... However, given the new advice received about the impact of the Supreme Court ruling, we believe the changes announced today are necessary.”
The ECB also reiterated its stance against discrimination, adding that it remains committed to ensuring the game is played with respect and inclusivity.
The change aligns with a broader shift among sports bodies in the UK. The English Football Association and England Netball recently introduced similar measures restricting transgender women from competing in the female category of their respective sports.
Anaya Bangar reacts
Reacting to the ECB’s announcement, Indian transgender cricketer Anaya Bangar shared a personal message on Instagram. Bangar, who is among the few openly transgender athletes in Indian cricket, wrote:
“To all those watching the news from England today — yes, the ECB has officially banned trans women from participating not just in professional cricket, but also in recreational and grassroots levels of the sport. This isn't just a rule. It's a message.”
In her post, she also addressed the transgender community, saying:
“They might control the pitch, but they will never control our spirit. This isn’t the end of our innings.”
The ECB had previously allowed transgender women to compete in some domestic tiers, depending on factors such as hormone levels and physical assessments. However, this latest change standardizes eligibility based on biological sex alone.
The move follows a decision by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in November 2023 to ban transgender women who have gone through male puberty from playing in international women's matches.
As more sporting bodies worldwide review or revise their transgender eligibility criteria, the discussion around inclusion and competitive fairness continues across multiple levels of sport.
