Following ICC’s Ban on Trans Cricketers, Danielle McGahey Announces Retirement

After ICC bans transgender cricketers, #DanielleMcGahey hangs boots from international cricket

Canadian trans cricketer Danielle McGahey

Image: Instagram/DanielleMcGahey

Following International Cricket Council's (ICC) ban on transgender cricketers from international cricket, Danielle McGahey - who made history earlier this year as the first transgender player to appear in an international cricket match has announced retirement from international cricket.

The 29-year-old Australian-born Canadian player, took to Instagram to share the news with the world.

"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," he wrote.

"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," he added.

ICC's Announcement

Earlier this evening, the International Cricket Council decided that transgender players and those who have undergone gender reassignment treatment from male to female will not be permitted to play in international women's cricket.

The new policy, which was decided upon following a nine-month process of consultation with the stakeholders in the sport, is predicated on the following principles, which are listed in priority order: safety, fairness, inclusion, and preservation of the integrity of the women's game.

"This means any Male to Female participants who have been through any form of male puberty will not be eligible to participate in the international women’s game regardless of any surgery or gender reassignment treatment they may have undertaken," the board said.

Who is Danielle McGahey?

Danielle McGahey—is the first transgender player to appear in an international cricket match.

The 29-year-old batter, McGahey, is originally from Australia. However, in 2020, he relocated to Canada, and in 2021, he underwent a medical transition from male to female. She participated for Canada in the Women's T20 Americas Qualifier in September 2023, which served as a qualifying event for the 2024 T20 World Cup.

McGahey met the requirements set forth at the time for gender eligibility in order to play international cricket as a male who transitioned to female. During her six T20I matches, she has amassed 118 runs at a 19.66 average and a 95.93 strike rate.