Anaya Bangar Cleared for Women’s Cricket in Australia: A Historic Journey

Former Mumbai Under-19 cricketer Anaya Bangar is stepping back into the sporting spotlight as Cricket Australia approves her participation in women’s community cricket. The 25-year-old athlete can now take the pitch immediately across various state and territory premier cricket leagues, marking a momentous milestone in her athletic career.

Anaya began her gender affirmation journey in 2022 and later completed her transition surgery. Reflecting on her path, she shared that there was a period when she genuinely feared her cricketing days were behind her. However, Cricket Australia’s inclusive participation policies have opened the doors for her to pursue her passion on the field once again.

Looking further ahead, elite-level competition remains on the horizon. Cricket Australia outlined that from March 2027 onward, her eligibility for elite domestic cricket will depend on fulfilling specific biological criteria. Upon arriving in Australia, Anaya must undergo blood testing to confirm that her serum testosterone levels remain strictly under 10 nmol/L.

Meeting these requirements could eventually clear her path to sign with a team in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), one of the world’s premier T20 competitions.

Meanwhile, representatives from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) noted that the Indian cricket board currently does not have a formal policy regarding the participation of transgender women in domestic women’s cricket, making Anaya’s Australian opportunity a vital next chapter in her career.