‘Great day’ says trans athlete Anaya Bangar after Cricket Australia okays participation

Anaya Bangar, a former Mumbai Under-19 cricketer who underwent gender affirming surgery in March, has been granted permission to participate in female Community Cricket in Australia. Anaya expressed her joy at the opportunity, stating, "It's a great day especially after knowing the fact that I can play cricket." Her father, Sanjay Bangar, is a former India all-rounder and batting coach for the men's team.

Anaya played age-group cricket for Mumbai alongside Test-capped players Sarfaraz Khan and Musheer Khan. To play elite cricket, such as the Women's Big Bash League, Anaya must fulfill the testosterone-related eligibility criteria set by Cricket Australia, which requires a serum testosterone level below 10 nmol/L for at least 12 months.

Cricket Australia's Head of Integrity, Jacqui Partridge, stated that Anaya's eligibility for elite cricket is conditional upon providing a blood test to confirm her serum testosterone remains below 10 nmol/L until March 2027. Anaya can begin playing community cricket immediately, and she will remain eligible to participate in Premier Cricket competitions in any State or Territory of Australia.

A top BCCI official mentioned that they have no policy on transgender women playing female cricket, and the board is yet to decide on the matter. Anaya had written to BCCI to inquire about eligibility criteria, but they have not responded. She had also approached Cricket Australia, which conducted a thorough assessment of her case, focusing on fairness and inclusivity in women's sport.

Anaya is still recovering from the gender affirming surgery but is in the process of finding a club to play for in Australia. She emphasized that Cricket Australia's progressive and inclusive policies are a significant milestone not just for her but for other transgender athletes who wish to participate in sports.