NEW DELHI: Anaya Bangar has taken a major step towards returning to competitive cricket after Cricket Australia confirmed that she will be eligible to play elite women’s cricket in the country from March 2027.Bangar, who underwent gender-affirming surgery in March, received the confirmation under Cricket Australia’s Inclusion of Transgender and Gender Diverse Players in Elite Cricket Policy. The decision opens a pathway for her to pursue a place in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), although she stressed that eligibility does not guarantee a franchise contract.In an exclusive conversation with Bombay Times, Anaya, daughter of former India all-rounder and batting coach Sanjay Bangar, described the development as an emotional moment after fearing that her cricket career had ended following her transition.“I am now eligible to play in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) in Australia from March 2027 onwards. For me, this is incredibly emotional because there was a point when I genuinely believed I had lost cricket forever,” she told Bombay Times.“Cricket has been such a fundamental part of my identity since childhood, and having to step away from the sport after my transition was one of the hardest things I experienced. So this isn’t simply about being included in a women’s league. It represents the possibility of returning to the sport I deeply love,” she said.
Eligibility secured, but WBBL place must still be earned
Anaya was quick to clarify that Cricket Australia’s decision only provides her with the opportunity to pursue elite women’s cricket. She will still have to earn a place in a WBBL squad through her performances.“Cricket Australia has allowed me to pursue elite women’s cricket in Australia. The next challenge is to get myself into the best possible physical and competitive shape and put myself in a position to be considered by a WBBL franchise. I still have to train, compete, perform and earn that opportunity,” she said.She explained that the WBBL’s overseas-player contracting and draft system means she will have to convince a franchise of her value.“The WBBL has an overseas-player contracting and draft system, where clubs select from the pool of available international players, like it happens in the IPL or the WPL,” Anaya said.“So ultimately, I still have to convince a franchise that I can contribute to their team. For me, that means getting back into competitive cricket in Australian leagues, working on my batting, bowling, fielding and fitness, training consistently and demonstrating that I can perform at that level.”
From uncertainty to a pathway in Australia
The development comes against the backdrop of different policies governing transgender participation in cricket.Cricket Australia has a different framework for elite domestic cricket, allowing transgender women who meet its eligibility and testosterone-related criteria to participate.Anaya said she had hoped for a clearer pathway in India but eventually chose to focus on what she could control.“When you grow up playing cricket competitively, the idea of potentially never being able to play again is incredibly difficult,” she said.“But I’ve also learned that I can’t build my future around waiting for somebody else to make a decision. I had to focus on what I could control — my health, my transition, my performance, the scientific evidence, and having conversations with sporting organisations.”She added: “I’m grateful that I have a pathway in Australia, and I hope that my journey can contribute to a broader conversation about how sporting bodies can approach transgender participation with both fairness and inclusion.”Cricket Australia’s eligibility confirmation said Anaya’s determination to commence in March 2027 would not be affected by amendments to its policy. It also confirmed that she is currently eligible to participate in Premier Cricket competitions in any Australian state or territory.For Anaya, the ambition is ultimately straightforward: “I would love to reach a point where I’m simply another cricketer competing against some of the best players in the world.”
