‘Ridiculous’: SA all-rounder questions Anaya Bangar’s inclusion in women’s cricket

Veteran South African all-rounder Marizanne Kapp has slammed Cricket Australia's decision to enable trans athlete Anaya Bangar to participate in women's cricket. Kapp, who has played over 280 international matches across formats, expressed her disbelief on social media, stating that the decision was "absolutely ridiculous" and should not be permitted.

Bangar, whose father is a former India all-rounder and former men's team batting coach, had played age-group cricket in Mumbai alongside Test-capped players Sarfaraz Khan and his brother Musheer Khan. She had undergone gender-affirming surgery in March this year and had received clearance to play women's community cricket in Australia.

Cricket Australia's 'Transgender and Gender Diverse Players in Elite Cricket Policy' requires a player's serum testosterone to be below 10 nmol/L for at least 12 months to be eligible to play. However, Bangar will be eligible to play elite cricket as long as she fulfills the criteria post-March 2027.

Bangar told The Indian Express that while she is still recovering from gender-affirming surgery, she is in the process of finding a club in Australia to play for. She explained that years of confusion about her identity led her to begin transitioning from a man to a woman in 2022. She sought guidance from counselors and later moved to the United Kingdom to play club cricket and explore hormone replacement therapy.