ICC advise of record Cricket World Cup 2023 attendance and new transgender policy

The Cricket World Cup 2023 in India has become the most attended International Cricket Council event ever staged with the governing body advising that 1,250,307 fans attended games during the tournament.

Last Sunday’s final between Australia and India saw more than 90,000 fans at the 132,000 capacity Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad watch Australia secure an exciting six-wicket victory over the hosts, with Pat Cummins' side claiming a sixth World Cup title.

The overall crowd numbers surpassed the previous mark of 1,016,420 spectators that attended the 2015 event in Australia and New Zealand.

The tournament ran between 5th October and 19th November, with organisers also claiming the largest attendance for a Men’s Cricket World Cup opening match.

Looking back on the tournament, International Cricket Council (ICC) Head of Events, Chris Tetley stated “the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 has been a great success, showcasing the best aspects of the game and capturing the hearts of hundreds of millions of fans across the world.

“The staggering attendance demonstrates the enduring appeal of cricket and the excitement the ODI format continues to offer. It has been an event that has not only entertained but also united cricket fans globally in a celebration of the sport.

“ICC events play an important part in growing our game and inspiring the next generation of fans and players around the world. We would like to thank all the fans who contributed to making the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 such a resounding success, and look forward to sharing more thrilling experiences for everyone in future ICC events.”

ICC bans transgender players banned from international women’s cricket
The ICC has become the latest sports body to ban transgender players from the elite women’s game if they have gone through male puberty.

The ICC last week said it had taken the decision, following an extensive scientific review and nine-month consultation, to “protect the integrity of the international women’s game and the safety of players”.

It joins rugby union, swimming, cycling, athletics and rugby league, who have all gone down a similar path in recent years after citing concerns over fairness or safety.

Explaining the sport’s decision, ICC Chief Executive, Geoff Allardice advised “the changes to the gender eligibility regulations resulted from an extensive consultation process and is founded in science and aligned with the core principles developed during the review.

“Inclusivity is incredibly important to us as a sport, but our priority was to protect the integrity of the international women’s game and the safety of players.”

Images: Fans at last Sunday's 2023 Cricket World Cup Final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad (top) and Australian players with their title (below). Credit: International Cricket Council.