Women cricketers have faced restrictions for different reasons, including anti-corruption violations, doping offences, conduct breaches and changes to eligibility rules. Some reported cases have resulted in lengthy and serious bans lasting several years, while others have led to suspensions from particular matches. Danielle McGahey’s case followed a change in international eligibility policy, rather than an individual disciplinary punishment. The cases of McGahey, Shohely Akhter, Anshula Rao, Harmanpreet Kaur and Megan Schutt show how different rules can affect players’ careers and participation in cricket.
1. Danielle McGahey — International Eligibility Restriction
Canadian opening batter Danielle McGahey made history in September 2023 by becoming the first transgender cricketer to play in an official international match. She represented Canada in the Women’s T20 World Cup Americas regional qualifying tournament. In November 2023, the International Cricket Council (ICC) approved new eligibility regulations for international women’s cricket after a nine-month consultation process. Under the policy, players who have undergone any form of male puberty are not eligible for the international women’s category, regardless of surgery or gender reassignment treatment.
The ICC said the policy was based on “protection of the integrity of the women’s game, safety, fairness and inclusion”. The change affected McGahey’s eligibility for international women’s cricket, but it was not a disciplinary ban for misconduct. It followed a change in the ICC’s rules. Domestic eligibility remains a matter for individual cricket boards, so the international policy should not be described as a universal domestic ban.
2. Shohely Akhter — Five-Year Ban
Bangladesh off-spinner Shohely Akhter received a five-year ban from all cricket in February 2025 after admitting to five breaches of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code. The case involved an approach to a Bangladesh player connected to a Women’s T20 World Cup match against Australia in 2023. Akhter offered two million Bangladeshi taka, reported as US$16,465, for the player to get out hit wicket. She made the approach through voice notes sent on Facebook, and the player reported it to the ICC’s anti-corruption unit.
Akhter had played two One-Day Internationals and 13 T20 Internationals for Bangladesh. She was not part of the squad for the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup and had last represented the national team in 2022. After admitting the five breaches, she accepted a five-year period of ineligibility starting on 10 February 2025. The ICC stated: “The ICC therefore considers that a period of ineligibility of five years is reasonable and proportionate.” Her case showed the serious consequences of attempts to improperly influence a player’s actions during an international tournament.
3. Anshula Rao — Four-Year Anti-Doping Ban
Anshula Rao, an all-rounder who played domestic cricket for Madhya Pradesh, received a four-year ban after testing positive for the prohibited anabolic steroid 19-norandrosterone. Her sample was collected during an out-of-competition test in March 2020, and the result confirmed the presence of the substance. The ban was backdated to 6 July 2020. The case was reported as the first time an Indian woman cricketer had received a four-year ban after failing a doping test.
Rao had represented Madhya Pradesh in domestic competitions, including the BCCI Under-23 T20 Trophy. The National Anti-Doping Agency’s disciplinary panel imposed the four-year period of ineligibility. Reports on the decision said the panel found that she had consumed the prohibited substance knowingly and intentionally to enhance performance. The case resulted in a lengthy restriction from competitive cricket.
4. Harmanpreet Kaur — Two-Match International Suspension
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur was suspended for her next two international matches in July 2023 after two breaches of the ICC Code of Conduct during the third ODI against Bangladesh in Dhaka. After being given out caught at slip off spinner Nahida Akter, Kaur hit the stumps with her bat to show dissent. She later criticised the umpiring during the post-match presentation. The two incidents were treated as separate breaches under the ICC’s disciplinary rules.
The ICC fined Kaur 50 per cent of her match fee and gave her three demerit points for the Level 2 offence involving “showing dissent at an umpire’s decision”. She received another fine of 25 per cent of her match fee and one demerit point for “public criticism in relation to an incident occurring in an international match.” Her four demerit points became two suspension points, requiring her to miss her next two ODIs or T20Is, whichever came first. She consequently missed India’s opening matches at the subsequent Asian Games. The ICC announced the sanction on 25 July 2023, after Kaur admitted both offences and accepted the penalties.
5. Megan Schutt — Two-Match Suspension
Australian fast bowler Megan Schutt received a two-match suspension from Cricket Australia in October 2026 after failing to follow requirements concerning prescription medication. The incident occurred outside competition and involved a breach of Cricket Australia’s Sports Science and Sports Medicine guidelines. The organisation said the matter did not involve illicit or performance-enhancing drugs. The case concerned the required reporting process for prescription medication, rather than an allegation that Schutt had used a substance to improve her performance.
Schutt accepted the sanction and apologised for not meeting the expected standards. The suspension applies to both international and domestic cricket. She will miss the third and final T20 match against New Zealand and the Adelaide Strikers’ opening Women’s Big Bash League match against the Melbourne Stars on 31 October. She recently took 10 wickets in an ODI series against Bangladesh at an average of 7.1.
These five cases involve different rules and consequences. McGahey’s situation followed an international eligibility policy change, while Akhter received a five-year ban after admitting anti-corruption breaches. Rao’s four-year ban followed a positive test for a prohibited steroid, and Kaur’s suspension resulted from two conduct breaches during an international match. Schutt’s penalty concerned prescription medication reporting. Together, the cases show how eligibility regulations and disciplinary procedures can affect players’ careers, match availability and participation in cricket. Keeping the circumstances distinct is important: an eligibility restriction is not the same as a disciplinary ban, and the reasons for the other sanctions differ from one case to another.
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