Danielle McGahey: Cricket's first transgender T20 player triggers backlash against 'cowardly' ICC

Cricket is facing mounting criticism for failing to follow other sports in tightening women’s sport protections after it emerged a transgender player will make her international debut.

Danielle McGahey, an Australian-born player, is set to become the first transgender cricketer to play an official Twenty20 international, representing Canada.

The 29-year-old, who moved to North America in February 2020 and transitioned to a woman in November the same year, has met the International Cricket Council’s transgender guidelines, meaning she can play in forthcoming matches, having undergone medical transition since May 2021.

However, with tougher rules now in place for the likes of cycling, rowing and swimming, leading campaigners said cricket should have considered the broader potential safety risk.

Sharron Davies, the Olympic medallist swimmer who has been at the forefront of campaigns to protect the integrity of women’s sport, says the situation is “outrageously irresponsible”.

“We’ve been pushing the England and Wales Cricket Board for years to protect females from male biological advantage,” she told Telegraph Sport of campaigns in England to toughen rules. “There are trans-identifying males in the English game right now that have caused damage to young female cricketers. Canada is particularly discriminatory toward their female athletes by allowing males into sports like rugby even against international governing bodies’ safety-first policies.”

In February, Telegraph Sport detailed the case of a middle-aged trans woman being permitted to compete against 12-year-old females in England. The ECB’s position is that transgender participation is a “complex area” and it is “reviewing” its policy.

Fiona McAnena, of Fair Play For Women, said her organisation had sent a dossier of evidence to the ECB illustrating how women and girl cricketers are in fear after facing trans competitors..

Expressing renewed dismay, she added: “We spoke to parents and players who were afraid to come out openly to the ECB in case they end up being kicked out.

“That’s why Fair Play For Women collated those concerns, but the ECB basically said, ‘Tough luck, it’s self ID’, and this is what is happening again.

“We’re not naming any individual trans players - that’s not the point. The point is that the ECB has a policy of self-identification, and so these situations are happening and it’s women and girls who are having to self exclude so this is not inclusive. This is having a negative impact on women and girls.”

Davies, meanwhile, said: “I’ve been worried from the very beginning it was going to take a very serious injury before this madness is stopped. I just hope governing bodies, who are too cowardly to use the science and protect their female members, are held accountable. I’m astonished insurance companies are prepared to cover them for the potential lawsuits given the peer-reviewed scientific data suggests a life-changing injury is likely.”

McGahey, meanwhile, has been named in the Canada Women’s squad that will attempt to qualify for the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup, and is set to feature in a qualifying tournament in Los Angeles between Sept 4-11.

Athletics, cycling and swimming have all changed their transgender policies in the past 12 months, while both codes of rugby have also moved to protect sport for biologically born women. However, cricket has not followed suit, with the ICC’s player eligibility regulations – last updated in 2021 – stating that trans women can compete in women’s matches providing they demonstrate that testosterone levels in their blood serum have been below five nanomoles per litre continuously for at least 12 months, and that they will commit to keeping it below that level for the duration of their career as a woman.

The regulations also state that a transgender player must produce a “written and signed declaration in a form satisfactory to the designated medical officer that her gender identity is female”.

However, McGahey detailed how she had undergone the required medical transition in order to meet existing ICC eligibility regulations.

“I am absolutely honoured,” McGahey told the BBC. “To be able to represent my community is something I never dreamt I would be able to do.

“In order to determine [my testosterone levels], I’ve been doing blood tests every month now for over two years. I also have to put in my player profile who I have played against and how many runs I’ve scored.

“A lot of work with my doctor sending my medical information through to the ICC... they have a dedicated medical officer who looks over all of the information provided, and determines whether or not I have provided enough for an expert panel to make a decision.

“The need to do blood tests every month is probably the biggest challenge because when you are playing cricket you are travelling a lot.

“It’s very personal in terms of the information you are giving over - all your medical information, history of puberty, any surgeries. There’s a lot in it. But the protocols are there and it has been used as intended.”

Canada’s 2021 census showed that one in every 302 citizens said they were transgender of non-binary, with 100,815 of 30.5 million respondents aged over 15 making use of a new question that added cisgender, transgender and non-binary to ‘at birth’ selections.

An ICC statement said: “We can confirm that Danielle went through the process as required under the ICC’s player eligibility regulations and as a result has been deemed eligible to participate in international women’s cricket on the basis that she satisfies the MTF transgender eligibility criteria.”

A spokesperson for Cricket Canada said: “Danielle’s selection was based on ICC’s player eligibility regulations for male-to-female transgender players.

“Danielle sent through her application to the ICC and Cricket Canada followed the process as per the ICC rules, which made Danielle’s selection to the Canadian team possible.”