On Thursday Cricket Australia made a historic decision. CA announced the direction for the inclusion of transgender and gender diverse cricketers in elite and community cricket.
The Story
CA has developed an elite cricket policy and guidelines for community cricket with the objective to support players irrespective of their gender and sexuality. The policy aligns closely with the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) eligibility criteria that aim to provide transgender and gender diverse cricketers guidance on how they can compete at the highest levels of the sport. A referral process to an Expert Panel has been established to ensure fair competition. CA started a consultation with the key stakeholders in October 2018 regarding the same and finally came up with a decision.
The official Twitter handle of Cricket Australia declared, “Today we take a major step to ensure inclusiveness is at the heart of Australian Cricket.” Pride in Sport Australia showed their support for the move on Twitter as well, We’re proud to support Cricket Australia on the launch of their new trans and gender diverse governance, to support those playing and wishing to play cricket in Australia.
Today we take a major step to ensure inclusiveness is at the heart of Australian Cricket.
Learn more about the inclusion of transgender and gender diverse people in the game: https://t.co/XbewXwazH4#ASportForAll pic.twitter.com/cRlM2TKx21
— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) August 7, 2019
Who says what
The CEO of Cricket Australia, Kevin Roberts said, “It doesn’t make any sense that today, people are discriminated against, harassed or excluded, because of who they are. And that’s not right.” He further explained how this policy would be helpful for the players to make them more professional and competitive. “As strength, stamina and physique are all relevant factors when competing in competitive sport, transgender and gender diverse players will be supported to participate in elite cricket, subject to certain criteria through the implementation of this policy.”
Australian women cricketer Megan Schutt seemed elated to find this and said that this would help to create a better environment for everyone to play. “Now that we know that anyone who is transgender or gender diverse has a chance to play cricket at the highest level – and rightfully so – I’m confident that the elite cricket policy will provide a fair process for transgender and gender diverse cricketers to embark on that pathway,” she said.
