Set to resume her cricketing journey in faraway Australia after being cleared to play at the community level, trans-athlete Anaya Bangar says she does not have a team yet but is confident of making the breakthroughs that would open up the Women’s Big Bash League for her next year.
Anaya, who is the daughter of former India cricketer Sanjay Bangar, played age-group men’s cricket for Mumbai before undergoing a gender-affirming surgery in March this year, completing a transition process that began in 2022.
“Today is an important day for me because after several years away from competitive cricket, I can finally speak about a pathway back to the sport that has been such a significant part of my life,” the 25-year-old told reporters in a press conference in Mumbai on Wednesday night.
“I am preparing to return to women’s cricket in Australia with the aim of pursuing elite cricket from March 2027. I am not claiming that I have made a team. I am saying that I have been given the opportunity to compete for one, and I intend to work for it,” she added.
Anaya expressed gratitude towards Cricket Australia, saying the body has a framework designed to “balance fairness, competitive integrity and inclusion in women’s sport”.
“My understanding is that Cricket Australia’s review considered a comprehensive body of information relating to my circumstances, including my medical history, surgical history, hormone and testosterone levels, my cricketing background and training footage as well, and the scientific and athletic performance work undertaken with Manchester Metropolitan University’s Institute of Sport,” she said.
Anaya had previously appealed to the BCCI to allow her to participate in women’s cricket events but did not get a response from the Indian Board. The ICC banned transgender athletes from women’s competition in 2023.
Anaya said her recent examination suggests she could maintain similar testosterone levels when she undergoes another test in March next year, which would eventually pave the way for her joining elite women’s cricket.
“I have also undergone gender affirming surgery…which means my previous primary source of testosterone is no longer present. My most recent blood test in July recorded total testosterone at 0.6 nanomoles,” she said.
“If that March 2027 test confirms that I continue to meet the required testosterone criteria, I will be eligible to pursue selection for elite women’s cricket, including the Women’s Big Bash League pathway,” she explained.
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Anaya said she wants to train and compete like any other athlete and does not want past history to have any impact.
“Eligibility is not selection. Cricket Australia has given me a pathway, which does not mean that I have been given a place in a team,” she said.
“I still have to train, compete, perform and earn that opportunity. That’s exactly how I want it. I don’t expect my history or my identity to earn me a place on a cricket team.
“I know there will be scrutiny, questions and different opinions. I respect that women’s sport has legitimate considerations about fairness and competitive integrity.” Anaya said inclusion and fairness do not have to be treated as mutually exclusive principles.
“Good sporting policy should be capable of considering both.” Anaya said she knew getting back to cricket would be tough after undergoing the gender-affirming surgery.
“For me personally, this is about more than a policy decision. I began playing cricket because I love the sport. I competed because I wanted to become better.
“When I transitioned, one of the most difficult possibilities I had to confront was that cricket might no longer have a place for me. I spent years trying to find a way back,” she said.
“Today, I finally have a pathway to try.”
Published on Aug 27, 2026
