Anaya Bangar, daughter of former Indian men’s cricket team national coach Sanjay Bangar, has gotten approval from Cricket Australia to resume her career in elite cricket.
Anaya told a news outlet that it was a ‘great day’ and said that there was a stage at which she had thought that she would never play cricket again.
Anaya underwent gender-affirming surgery in Thailand in March 2026 and is a vocal advocate for transgender athletes, amid a global debate about transgender rights in sport.
Who is Anaya Bangar?
Anaya Bangar formerly trained and played as a top-order batter and all-rounder in Mumbai’s youth divisions, alongside notable names including Indian Test cricketer Sarfaraz Khan.
Anaya then moved to the U.K., where she continued to play and train with local cricket clubs.
She frequently documents her life on social media platforms like Instagram.
Notably, she has spoken out in an Instagram reel about her experience in front of a medical board after the passing of the Transgender Amendment Act 2026, which mandated specific rules for being identified as transgender person in India. Anaya also posts tips about skin care, fashion, beauty, sports and life in general on her social media.
What is the Cricket Australia ruling?
Cricket Australia, the governing body for the sport in the country, has officially cleared Anaya to play women’s community and Premier Cricket across all States and territories with immediate effect.
Under Cricket Australia’s official Inclusion of Transgender and Gender Diverse Players with Elite Cricket Policy, she is now eligible to target elite franchise selection like Women’s Big Bash Leage (WBBL) from March 2027.
But she must adhere to strict, continuous monitoring thresholds regarding her serum testosterone levels.
Global rules for transgender athletes
In 2023, the global body for cricket, the International Cricket Council (ICC), enforced a strict policy that banned any transgender players who have gone male puberty from competing in women’s fixtures.
But Australia does allow players to play domestically after passing strict testing to determine testosterone levels.
BCCI’s stance
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not established clear rules or regulations governing transgender players, till the date of publication.
Published – August 26, 2026 02:50 pm IST
