Transgender cricketer Anaya Bangar has urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to introduce a pathway for transgender athletes to compete in women’s cricket, pointing to Cricket Australia‘s eligibility framework as an example for Indian cricket to consider.
Bangar, the daughter of former India cricketer and coach Sanjay Bangar, made the appeal while preparing to relocate to Australia and resume her playing career. Speaking to Hindustan Times, she said: “If BCCI can follow what Australia has done, that would be a wonderful thing.”
The appeal comes after Bangar sought clarification from the BCCI in 2025 about eligibility for transgender players in Indian women’s cricket but received no response. Her experience has highlighted the different approaches taken by the Indian and Australian governing bodies to the issue of transgender participation.
Cricket Australia’s pathway and India’s unresolved position
Bangar received approval from Cricket Australia in August to pursue elite women’s cricket from March 2027, subject to meeting the governing body’s eligibility requirements. Until then, she can participate in Australian Premier Cricket, which is classified as community rather than elite competition.
As previously reported by cricexec, Cricket Australia’s policy requires players seeking eligibility for elite women’s cricket to maintain serum testosterone concentrations below 10 nmol/L for at least 12 months. Bangar must also provide a blood test confirming continued compliance with the policy when she arrives in Australia.
The clearance offers a potential route towards the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), although participation would depend on Bangar earning selection by a franchise. India’s position remains different: the BCCI has yet to establish a policy for transgender women’s participation in domestic women’s cricket, while the ICC’s international eligibility rules prohibit transgender women who have experienced male puberty from competing in international women’s cricket.
Eligibility debate draws contrasting reactions
Cricket Australia’s decision has also prompted debate about fairness and eligibility in women’s competition. South African All-rounder Marizanne Kapp criticised the development in an Instagram Story in August, writing: “Absolutely ridiculous, this should NOT be allowed!”
Bangar has responded to concerns about competitive advantage by referring to assessments conducted after she began hormone replacement therapy. Addressing Kapp’s criticism, she told Hindustan Times: “I think I understand the place where she’s coming from. To counter the point about the unfair advantage aspect: there has been testing done by the Manchester University Institute of Sport. They did a 12-week-long testing program with me regarding my body’s athletic capabilities after being on hormone replacement therapy for a year. That test concluded that my physical parameters fall within the cisgender female athlete range.”
Bangar has also described the physical changes she has experienced following treatment and surgery, arguing that eligibility decisions should account for individual circumstances. She added: “So, in terms of unfair advantage, I already have scientific evidence backing my case. On top of that, Cricket Australia has put out proper policies on inclusion, fairness, and maintaining the dignity of women’s sport. I am already complying with those guidelines. My body doesn’t produce testosterone anymore since I’ve had the surgery. My testosterone levels are 0.6 nanomoles. Because of that, I have been experiencing bone density loss; I can literally feel my bones aching. I can feel my muscle mass reducing and my stamina levels decreasing. I can’t work out the same as I used to. So, whenever rules and policies are set out there, I would say it needs to be on a case-by-case basis, because not all trans women have an unfair advantage.”
Personal challenges behind Bangar’s return to cricket
Beyond the eligibility debate, Bangar has spoken about the difficulties she faced while undergoing her gender transition, including a lack of financial support for medical procedures.
The 25-year-old underwent gender-affirming surgery in March and has described how her decision affected relationships with family and friends, alongside her cricket career. Recalling the difficulties of obtaining assistance, she told Hindustan Times: “I tried my hardest to get some therapy, but I wasn’t getting any support for surgeries.”
Bangar eventually financed her first two procedures through collaborations with brands on social media. She has also faced online criticism concerning her transition and prospective participation in women’s cricket. Responding to those reactions, she said: “They haven’t experienced what I have.”
Bangar’s immediate plans centre on moving to Australia and returning to competitive cricket, with Premier Cricket providing an opportunity to play before her conditional elite eligibility begins in March 2027. Her appeal to the BCCI remains unanswered, leaving the question of a domestic pathway for transgender cricketers in India unresolved.
