After ICC Ruling World's First Transgender International Cricketer Retires
Danielle McGahey, who is the first transgender woman to play international cricket, has announced that her career is over. The decision comes after a key change to the gender eligibility requirements of the ICC that banned transgenders from participating in women's internationals. McGahey has played six T20Is for Canada and scored 118 runs at an average of 19.66 and a strike rate of 95.93. However, with the ICC banning transgender women from featuring, the 29-year-old has decided to end her career.
McGahey posted on Instagram, saying, “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 began, it must now end. It is based on the following principles (in order of priority): protection of the integrity of the women's game, safety, fairness, and inclusion," the ICC said in a statement. "The regulations will be reviewed within two years.”
However, McGahey said that she will continue to fight for the equality of transgender women in sports.
She further 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 message saying 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.