Anaya Bangar Shares Her Struggle and Return to Cricket
Anaya Bangar, the daughter of former India all-rounder and batting instructor Sanjay Bangar, has been cleared by Cricket Australia to play community-level women’s cricket tournaments immediately.
The approval allows her to compete in Premier Cricket contests across all Australian states and territories under Cricket Australia’s Inclusion of Transgender and Gender Diverse Players in Elite Cricket Policy.
Anaya Banga started her transition in 2022 and had gender-affirming surgery in March 2026. She had represented Mumbai at the Under-19 level before retiring from competitive cricket.
Her eligibility for elite cricket in March 2027 remains contingent on completing the necessary standards, which include a blood test to show serum testosterone concentrations remain below 10 nmol/L.
The road opens up the potential of competing in the Women’s Big Bash League, but approval does not guarantee selection for any side. Anaya Banga addressed the BCCI to enquire about prospects to play women’s cricket in India, but received no response, forcing her to seek the Australian road.
She remarked on her journey and the importance of gaining formal approval to return to the sport she had abandoned throughout her transition. Anaya Banga underlined that the clearance is a systematic decision, not an informal arrangement. She acknowledged the achievement while remaining focused on the performance-based objectives that awaited her in the Australian cricket system.
Cricket Australia’s official clearance and immediate pathway
Anaya Banga believes the decision is significant beyond her own return to cricket.
She believes that the pathway offered by Cricket Australia could provide a significant chance for future transgender athletes who want to continue competing in sports.
The clearance has revived an option Anaya had previously thought was out of reach. Her emphasis now shifts to making a successful return to competitive cricket, meeting the necessary eligibility requirements, and pushing her way back into contention through her on-field performances.
Performance-based selection and earning opportunities
Anaya Banga emphasised that getting a pathway does not automatically result in team selection or guarantyd opportunities. She remains determined to earn her position via performance and competitive merit, rather than relying on her past or identity.
