Following their recent suspension for violating ICC membership requirements, particularly the mandate for autonomous governance without government interference, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has now reinstated Sri Lanka’s membership. This reinstatement enables them to participate in both bilateral cricket matches and ICC tournaments.
Reports indicate that subsequent to a hearing from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), the ICC Board met on Tuesday to formalize the terms of SLC’s suspension.
After an exhaustive 9-month consultation process involving crucial stakeholders in the sport, the ICC has formally approved new gender eligibility regulations for international cricket.
The policy’s guiding principles emphasize safeguarding the integrity of women’s cricket, prioritizing safety, and promoting fairness and inclusion. According to these regulations, individuals assigned male at birth who have undergone male puberty will be ineligible to participate in international women’s cricket, regardless of any gender reassignment treatments or surgeries they may have undergone.
The thorough review of these regulations was led by the ICC Medical Advisory Committee, headed by Dr. Peter Harcourt.
It’s crucial to highlight that the focus of this review is confined to gender eligibility in international women’s cricket. Individual Member Boards maintain authority over gender eligibility at the domestic level, potentially influenced by local legislation. The implemented regulations will undergo a comprehensive review within a two-year timeframe.
Dive into the rationale behind the ICC’s changes to gender eligibility regulations, as Chief Executive Geoff Allardice highlights the scientific foundation and alignment with core principles from an extensive consultation process.
He also emphasized that while inclusivity is of significant importance in the realm of sports, their primary concern was safeguarding the integrity of the international women’s game and ensuring the safety of players.
