A mother of a young cricket player claims that the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) refusal to ban transgender women from women’s amateur leagues is leading to girls quitting the sport and facing emotional distress. Her daughter, aged 10, experienced discomfort playing against biologically male trans players, and other girls expressed fears about competing with them. The ECB only prohibits transgender women from elite competitions, citing a “disparity policy” for grassroots levels. Critics argue this lacks fairness for amateur players. The ECB states it hasn’t received complaints regarding safety or disparities related to this issue.
A governing body’s refusal to ban transgender women from the women’s amateur league has forced girls to quit cricket and put them at risk, the mother of a young player has claimed.
In October last year, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) banned biologically male trans women from competing in women’s professional competitions, but at grassroots level they have allowed this to continue.
But the concerned mother, who requested anonymity, begged for the ban to be extended to amateur cricket as well.
In an impassioned letter, she said female students who were forced to play against male students who identified as female cried, became depressed and dropped out of the competition.
She detailed how her 10-year-old daughter played in an under-13 event last summer where two boys who identified as female were on the opposing team.
She claimed that one 12-year-old child “cried in a tree” because their presence “scared her, threatened her, made her feel uncomfortable and worthless.” .
This same girl said she didn’t want to play if she had to compete with a biological male, and her parents claimed other girls were considering doing the same.
In a separate letter to campaign group SEEN Sport, which calls for the preservation of monosexuality in women’s sport, she said that male-born players still “cross-dress” and that one of their parents “cross-dressed” during a match. Good luck, girl,” he said, accusing another parent of humiliating him. A “trance” player caught the ball.
In October last year, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) banned transgender women from competing in women’s professional competitions, but allowed them to continue at grassroots level.
The concerned mother, who requested anonymity, begged for the ban to be extended to amateur cricket as well. Pictured: Rainbow lace colors on Headingley stumps in 2023
She also slammed the ECB’s guidance that transgender people should have access to changing rooms, showers and toilets appropriate to their gender.
she wrote: “I encourage every woman who receives this letter to face the challenge of a big man with a mighty bowl. And imagine yourself facing the equivalent in a child. Please, someone bigger, stronger, faster, and more powerful than you.”
The ECB’s decision to ban people who have “reached male puberty” from elite women’s domestic cricket from 2025 follows International Cricket Council precedent.
The organization does not extend the ban to amateur teams, saying it relies on a “disparity policy” and that if there are concerns, authorities should take measures such as “calling stronger players to be careful.” Ta.
Sue Wong of SEEN Sports said, “The ECB granted fairness to around 300 professional players, but not to 33,000 grassroots women players.”
The ECB said: “We are not aware of any other complaints raised by parents on the day in question and no evidence has been presented regarding issues of safety, disparities or safeguards.”
