Cricket history to be made as transgender star to play in women's T20 clash

McGahey is able to play after fulfilling all of the eligibility criteria the International Cricket Council has put in place.

Her imminent debut appearance comes at a time when other sports such as athletics, swimming and rugby have banned transgender women from taking part.

McGahey told the BBC: "I am absolutely honoured.

"To be able to represent my community is something I never dreamed I would be able to do."

Explaining how she's able to play, the Canada star added: "In order to determine [my testosterone levels], I've been doing blood tests every month now for over two years.

"I also have to put in my player profile who I have played against and how many runs I've scored.

"A lot of work with my doctor sending my medical information through to the ICC... they have a dedicated medical officer who looks over all of the information provided, and determines whether or not I have provided enough for an expert panel to make a decision.

​"The need to do blood tests every month is probably the biggest challenge because when you are playing cricket you are travelling a lot.

"It's very personal in terms of the information you are giving over - all your medical information, history of puberty, any surgeries.

"There's a lot in it. But the protocols are there and it has been used as intended."

However, Women's Rights Network spokeswoman Jane Sullivan has criticised the ICC for its eligibility criteria.

"There are currently 17 peer-reviewed studies that show we cannot mitigate against male puberty when it comes to sporting performance," she said.

"On average, men - however they identify - have bigger muscle mass, larger skeletons, bigger lung capacity, more fast-twitch muscles.

"It's been proven that even 14-year-old boys can be faster and stronger than world-class female athletes.

"Any cricket team that has an individual who has been through male puberty already has an unfair advantage over an all-female side.

"As an organisation, we don't want to see anyone banned from sport - it's for everyone.

"But women's sport must be fair - and safe - for the women taking part."

McGahey previously took part in four international T20 matches in October 2022.

This was at the South American Championships, with Canada invited to play in the tournament as guests.

Given those matches didn't hold official T20 international status, McGahey didn't need to fulfil any ICC criteria in order to play.

Speaking about that experience, she said: Within five months of playing my first game with the women in Canada, I was in Brazil.

"The board was all over it - 'So OK, who is this?' - and we kind of went from there.

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"I basically got told two weeks before that I was going to be going to Brazil and representing Canada.

"Obviously I felt a huge sense of pride. Not only for what I'm doing, but for my [trans] community. Being able to represent them."

And McGahey also said she hadn't spoken with her family since moving to Canada from her native Australia.

"The last communication I had with them was October 2021," McGahey added. "I knew [my feelings] from a very young age, but my family was the big reason I didn't come out at a very young age. I knew their stance pretty early.

"The family that I have now is the family I've built; I can be happy with the people I have around me. They support me and back me all the way."