Anaya Bangar has responded to criticism over her return to women’s cricket, asking those against her participation to first understand the rules behind Cricket Australia’s decision.
The 25-year-old transgender cricketer, daughter of former India all-rounder and coach Sanjay Bangar, has been cleared to play women’s community cricket in Australia. This could give her a path towards elite cricket from March 2027.
Her possible return has drawn criticism from South African all-rounder Marizanne Kapp. Anaya, however, believes people should understand the eligibility process before judging the decision.
Speaking to PTI, Anaya said critics should learn about the subject and the conditions under which Cricket Australia cleared her.
“I think people who want to raise their voice against it should actually educate themselves on this topic, and I’ve already provided the necessary information in terms of not having any unfair advantage, and also complying with the guidelines set by Cricket Australia. If anyone’s personal opinion is in that sort of way, I hope they go and educate themselves,” she said.
The TOI Sports Desk reported that Cricket Australia made its decision under its Inclusion of Transgender and Gender Diverse Players in Elite Cricket Policy.
Anaya wants to return to cricket step by step
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Cricket Australia’s decision does not mean that Anaya has received a place in a professional team. Instead, it gives her a chance to restart her cricket career after spending several years away from competitive cricket.
Anaya has not yet joined a local club in Australia. She is currently talking to several clubs before deciding where she will start playing.
Her first goal is to play club cricket and perform well. She then hopes those performances can help her move towards a higher level of the game.
Anaya Bangar explained that she wants to take things slowly and focus on one step at a time.
“…basically now, the next role is to go there and play club cricket and prove myself by my performances, and if I do well, I hopefully might have a chance to be picked for the Women’s Big Bash League. So, baby steps from here, but the major part of having a place to play has been cleared,” she said.
Cricket Australia’s decision gives Anaya a chance to return, but it does not guarantee her a place in the Women’s Big Bash League. She will first need to join a club, play competitive cricket again and perform well.
Her return also means much more to her than simply playing cricket again. Anaya previously played age-group cricket for Mumbai with players such as Sarfaraz Khan and Musheer Khan. She later moved to the UK and continued playing club cricket.
Anaya began her transition in 2022 and underwent gender-affirming surgery in March 2026. She has said she spent a long time in “survival mode” and is now starting to process her experiences.
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Marizanne Kapp strongly criticised the decision
The controversy started after Cricket Australia confirmed that Anaya could play women’s community cricket under its transgender and gender-diverse participation rules.
Marizanne Kapp, one of South Africa’s most experienced women’s cricketers, strongly disagreed with the decision.
Kapp has played more than 280 international matches across formats and remains one of the most recognised players in women’s cricket.
The TOI Sports Desk reported that Kapp reacted to the news on social media and questioned the decision to allow transgender athletes to compete in women’s cricket.
Kapp wrote:
“Absolutely ridiculous, this should not be allowed.”
Kapp’s criticism came as Anaya looked towards a possible future in elite women’s cricket.
Cricket Australia has allowed Anaya to play community cricket now. However, her possible move into elite cricket from March 2027 still depends on her meeting the required conditions.
Therefore, it would be wrong to say that Anaya has already received clearance to play in the WBBL. She has received a pathway towards elite cricket, but she still needs to meet the eligibility conditions and earn selection through her performances.
Why can Anaya Bangar play women’s cricket in Australia?
Cricket Australia’s domestic rules are different from the international rules used by the International Cricket Council.
Under Cricket Australia’s community cricket framework, transgender and gender-diverse players can take part according to their gender identity.
The community guidelines also say that players can register and compete according to their affirmed gender identity. Clubs should not ask players to provide medical or hormone evidence for community cricket participation.
Elite cricket has different requirements.
For a transgender woman who wants to play elite women’s cricket, Cricket Australia’s policy requires serum testosterone to remain below 10 nanomoles per litre for at least 12 months.
Anaya has said that her latest blood test in July showed a testosterone level of 0.6 nmol/L.
The Indian Express reported that Cricket Australia’s Head of Integrity, Jacqui Partridge, told Anaya that she could play Premier Cricket until March 2027 because the competition falls under community cricket.
After March 2027, Anaya will need another blood test. The test must show that her testosterone remains below 10 nmol/L and that she continues to meet the other requirements of Cricket Australia’s policy.
Anaya has also said that Cricket Australia looked at several parts of her case before making its decision.
The assessment included her medical and surgical history, hormone and testosterone levels, previous cricket experience and playing footage. It also considered scientific and sports performance research carried out with Manchester Metropolitan University’s Institute of Sport.
This shows that Cricket Australia’s decision involved an eligibility process rather than simply giving Anaya automatic permission to play elite women’s cricket.
International cricket has stricter rules
The situation changes when it comes to international cricket.
The ICC introduced a policy in 2023 that prevents transgender women who have experienced male puberty from playing international women’s cricket.
The ICC rules set strict conditions for transgender female players. Among other requirements, the rules state that a transgender woman must not have experienced male puberty beyond a specific stage and must meet the required testosterone conditions.
Because of these rules, Cricket Australia’s domestic decision does not automatically give Anaya the right to play international cricket.
She could potentially pursue domestic cricket in Australia under Cricket Australia’s rules, but international cricket follows the ICC’s separate regulations.
Her possible participation in the WBBL would also come under Australia’s domestic system rather than the ICC’s international rules.
This difference between domestic and international cricket has become an important part of the discussion around Anaya’s case.
What is the position of Anaya Bangar in Indian cricket?
The situation in India is not as clearly defined.
The Indian Express reported that a senior BCCI official said the board does not currently have a specific policy for transgender women playing women’s cricket.
The ICC already has rules for international cricket, but the BCCI has not publicly established a clear domestic policy for a case like Anaya’s.
Anaya Bangar had contacted the BCCI to seek clarity about whether she could continue her cricket career in India. However, she said she did not receive a response.
PTI also reported Anaya’s disappointment over the lack of a response. She has called on the BCCI to consider creating a clear policy for transgender players.
Therefore, it would not be accurate to simply say that India has banned Anaya from playing women’s cricket.
The more accurate position is that the BCCI does not currently have a clearly established public policy covering her specific situation. At the same time, the ICC has separate international rules that restrict transgender women who have experienced male puberty from playing international women’s cricket.
Anaya Bangar is now focusing on cricket
Anaya’s response to Kapp shows that she wants people to focus on the rules and eligibility process behind her return.
Cricket Australia’s decision has given Anaya a chance to return to a sport she once thought she had lost. She now wants to begin with club cricket and slowly work towards a possible WBBL opportunity.
However, she still needs to prove herself on the field. Being allowed to play does not guarantee selection. She will need to find a club, regain her form and perform well.
Kapp’s criticism also shows the wider debate around transgender participation in women’s sport. The discussion includes inclusion, fairness and eligibility rules.
Different cricket bodies have different policies. Cricket Australia has given Anaya a domestic pathway, while the ICC has stricter rules for international cricket. The BCCI has not yet created a clear domestic policy.
For now, Anaya wants to return to club cricket, perform well, and earn her next opportunity through her performances.
With different cricket bodies following different rules for transgender participation, could Anaya Bangar’s return eventually lead the BCCI to create a clear policy of its own? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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