Australian-born Canadian international Danielle McGahey’s career ended by new ICC transgender rules

Read Time:3 Minute, 15 Second

The international career of Australian-born transgender cricketer Danielle McGahey is over after the ICC ruled players who have been through male puberty will not be able to compete in international women’s cricket.

The change in regulations appears to have been prompted by McGahey after she became the first transgender cricketer to take part in an official international match.

The Brisbane-born 29-year-old, who played grade cricket as a man in Melbourne, moved to Canada in 2020.

Watch, Stream & Catch Up with Australia’s Home of Cricket on 7plus >>

Having transitioned socially, then medically, she began playing women’s cricket in Canada and was called into the national team in October 2022.

“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. As quickly as it begun, it must now end,” McGahey wrote.

“Thank you so much to everybody who has supported me in my journey, from my all of my teammates, all of the opposition, the cricketing community and my sponsor Willow.

“While I hold my opinions on the ICC’s decision, they are irrelevant. What matters is the message being sent to millions of trans women today, a messaging say that we don’t belong.

“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!”

Australian World Cup-winning captain scalded in brutal drive-by

Aussie cricketers’ wives in sad fallout to World Cup final

Danielle McGahey has confirmed her international career is over. Credit: Instagram

McGahey played in international matches that did not hold official ICC status prior to a Women’s T20 World Cup Americas region qualifiers event last month.

The opening batter went on to play all six of Canada’s matches at the Los Angeles tournament.

Canada came second in the four-team event, failing to qualify, with McGahey making 118 runs at 19.67 with a top score of 48.

Under the ICC’s previous regulations, which were effective from October 2018 and amended in April 2021, McGahey had satisfied all of the eligibility criteria.

McGahey (top row, third from right) with her Canadian teammates. Credit: Instagram

The new gender regulations were announced on Wednesday following an ICC board meeting, after a nine-month consultation period with the sport’s stakeholders.

The review, led by the ICC medical advisory committee and chaired by Dr Peter Harcourt, relates solely to gender eligibility for international women’s cricket.

Gender eligibility at domestic level is a matter for each individual member board.

The changes come after Cricket Australia (CA) unveiled what it proclaimed as an “inclusive” policy on transgender athletes in 2019.

Under CA’s rules, no requirements are placed around the age of transition, but rather must demonstrate a concentration of testosterone in serum less than 10 nanomoles per litre continuously for 12 months or more.

Those rules are yet to need to be applied at an elite level.

If they were to in the future, players would still be eligible to compete at domestic level, but are now ineligible for Australian selection unless they meet the ICC regulations.

At grassroots level in Australia, players are still allowed to feature in any club competition which meets their gender identity.

The ICC’s move comes after transgender athletes have been banned from taking part in elite women’s competitions in other sports such as swimming, cycling, athletics, rugby league and rugby union.

with PA, 7NEWS