‘Australia has given me pathway, not a place in team’: Anaya Bangar on WBBL dream

Anaya Bangar, a former Mumbai U-19 cricketer and daughter of ex-India batting coach Sanjay Bangar, has been granted a pathway to pursue elite women's cricket in Australia, with a key date of March 2027 set for her eligibility. However, this clearance does not guarantee a spot in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) or any other elite team. Cricket Australia has emphasized that the process is not automatic and requires players to earn their opportunities through training, competing, and performing.

Bangar, who is transgender, emphasized that she understands this is a pathway, not a guaranteed position in a team. "Cricket Australia has given me a pathway, which does not mean that I have been given a place in a team," she stated. Her immediate plan is to find a club and play community cricket in Australia while she works towards a return to competitive cricket and potential selection for elite competitions.

To be eligible for elite women's cricket from March 2027, Bangar must meet Cricket Australia's Transgender and Gender Diverse Players in Elite Cricket Policy. This includes maintaining serum testosterone concentration below 10 nmol/L for at least 12 months, which will be assessed with a required blood test. If Bangar meets these requirements, she will be eligible to pursue selection for elite women's cricket, including the WBBL pathway.

However, meeting these criteria would not guarantee her a place in an elite team, as performance would still be crucial in earning that opportunity.