Cricket: Ban on Transgender Women
By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw
Hot on the heels of association football, it has been announced, on 2 May 2025, that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is banning transgender women from competing at all levels of women's cricket with immediate effect.
Updating its transgender regulations, the ECB stated:
"Only those whose biological sex is female will be able to participate in women's and girls' cricket.”
The ECB also stated that transgender women and girls can continue playing in open and mixed cricket categories.
The change in the ECB rules follows the UK Supreme Court ruling, handed down on 15 April 2025, which held that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex.
The ECB also stated:
"Our regulations for recreational cricket have always aimed at ensuring that cricket remains as inclusive a sport as possible.”
And added:
"However, given the new advice received about the impact of the Supreme Court ruling, we believe the changes announced today are necessary."
Other UK sports governing bodies are expected to follow with similar bans.
Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw may be contacted by e-mail at ‘
