Anaya Bangar cleared by Cricket Australia for cricket return

Anaya Bangar, daughter of former India cricketer Sanjay Bangar, has received clearance from Cricket Australia to play women’s Community Cricket in Australia. The decision allows her to return to the sport after undergoing gender-affirming surgery earlier this year.

Anaya previously played age-group cricket for Mumbai alongside Sarfaraz Khan and Musheer Khan. She said the clearance was a major moment for her after she feared that she might never play cricket again. She is now expected to make her return to competitive cricket in 2027.

However, Anaya will need to meet separate testosterone-related eligibility requirements if she wants to play elite-level women’s cricket, including competitions such as the Women’s Big Bash League.

Sanjay Bangar's daughter gets green light from Cricket Australia to resume elite cricket

Cricket Australia has cleared 25-year-old Anaya Bangar to return to women’s Community Cricket, including Premier Cricket competitions across Australia. The decision allows her to resume playing after undergoing gender-affirming surgery and could open a pathway to elite cricket from March 2027.

According to Cricket Australia’s Transgender and Gender Diverse Players in Elite Cricket Policy, players must have serum testosterone levels below 10 nmol/L for at least 12 months to be eligible for elite cricket. Anaya will need to provide a blood test in March 2027 to confirm that she continues to meet the eligibility requirements.

Anaya, who previously played age-group cricket in Mumbai alongside Sarfaraz Khan and Musheer Khan, welcomed the decision. She said she had once feared that she would never play cricket again but was grateful to Cricket Australia for giving her another opportunity. In 2023, the ICC introduced a policy that prevents transgender players who have gone through male puberty from playing international women’s cricket.

From Aryan to Anaya: Her journey through HRT, surgery and cricket's toughest barrier

Anaya Bangar, the daughter of former India cricketer and coach Sanjay Bangar, has shared her journey of transitioning from Aryan to Anaya. She came out as a transgender woman and underwent hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as part of her transition. She now continues her cricket journey under the name Anaya Bangar.

Anaya is a left-handed batter who has played for Islam Gymkhana, the same local club associated with her father. She has also scored runs while playing for Hinckley Cricket Club in Leicestershire. Her cricketing journey has continued alongside her transition.

Anaya previously shared her transition journey on social media, highlighting the challenges she faced as a transgender athlete. The post included photographs with Indian cricket stars Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni. She later removed the post, but her story has continued to spark discussions about identity, acceptance and the challenges faced by transgender athletes in cricket.

Team, league and timeline still unconfirmed — Here's what we know so far

Cricket Australia has cleared 25-year-old Anaya Bangar to play club and community-level cricket in Australia. She can now represent local teams and use domestic cricket to regain match fitness after her gender transition.

Anaya previously played junior cricket in Mumbai alongside players such as Sarfaraz Khan. While she can play community cricket immediately, her participation in elite competitions such as the Women’s Big Bash League will depend on meeting Cricket Australia’s eligibility rules.

According to the policy, transgender players must maintain serum testosterone levels below 10 nmol/L for at least 12 continuous months. Anaya’s eligibility for elite cricket will be assessed from March 2027, but her team and competition details have not yet been confirmed.