• Included in Canada’s squad for Women’s T20 World Cup qualifying.
• Eligible as per ICC criteria for male-to-female transgender players.
• Women’s Rights Network expresses concerns over perceived advantage.

Danielle McGahey of Canada is poised to make history as the first transgender cricketer to participate in an official international match. McGahey has been named in Canada’s lineup for a qualifying tournament leading up to the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh.

At 29 years old, McGahey, who opens as a batter, has met all the eligibility requirements established by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for male-to-female transgender athletes. This paves the way for her involvement in the tournament scheduled from September 4th to 11th in Los Angeles.

McGahey’s inclusion stands out as various other sports, such as athletics, cycling, swimming, and both forms of rugby, have rules that prohibit transgender women from participating in elite women’s competitions. Despite these prohibitions, McGahey’s qualifications have aligned with ICC standards, enabling her to compete at this level.

However, not all parties are supportive of the decision. The Women’s Rights Network (WRN), an organization advocating for the rights of women based on their biological sex, raised concerns about the perceived advantage transgender women might possess over athletes biologically identified as female at birth. The WRN criticized the ICC’s policy as unjust and potentially risky.

McGahey’s personal journey has been marked by significant transitions. Having migrated from Australia to Canada in February 2020, she took the step of social transition to being a woman in November of the same year. Furthermore, she embarked on medical transitioning in May 2021, marking another pivotal moment in her life.

Expressing her sentiments, McGahey shared her profound sense of honor in being able to represent her community through this unique opportunity. The chance to partake in an international sporting event as a transgender individual is a dream she never anticipated coming true.

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