Campaigners take part in a rally organised by trans rights groups, trade unions, and community organisations following the Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman in equalities law, at Parliament Square, central London, Saturday April 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Campaigners take part in a rally organised by trans rights groups, trade unions, and community organisations following the Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman in equalities law, at Parliament Square, central London, Saturday April 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
LONDON (AP) 鈥 Transgender women are to be banned outright from women鈥檚 and girls鈥 cricket in England and Wales.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said Friday it had updated its previous restrictions following a U.K. Supreme Court ruling last month.
鈥淲ith immediate effect, only those whose biological sex is female will be eligible to play in women鈥檚 cricket and girls鈥 cricket matches鈥, the ECB said Friday. “Transgender women and girls can continue playing in open and mixed cricket.”
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
The announcement comes a day after teams in England and Scotland by the Football Association.
Transgender women were already banned from the top two tiers of elite women鈥檚 cricket from the start of this year but had been permitted to compete in the women鈥檚 game at lower levels including recreational cricket.
No longer.
The U.K.鈥檚 highest court issued a ruling two weeks ago that for anti-discrimination purposes as someone born biologically female. The head of the said after the ruling that transgender women would be excluded from women鈥檚 toilets, hospital wards and sports teams.
While the ruling was cheered by some feminist groups, it has been condemned by trans-rights groups who said it would have a broad and detrimental impact on daily life.
The issue has been polarizing in the U.K. and beyond, particularly in the United States, where President Donald Trump has signed to prohibit participation of transgender athletes in sports and to use , rather than gender, for federal government purposes. The orders are being .
To join the conversation set a first and last name in your user profile.
Sign in or register for free to join the Conversation