Anaya Bangar Advocates for Trans Women in Women’s Cricket

Anaya Bangar Advocates for Trans Women in Women’s Cricket

Anaya Bangar, daughter of former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar, is making waves in the sports world by challenging policies that prevent trans women from participating in women’s cricket. Partnering with the Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport in the U.K., Anaya has taken significant steps to scientifically evaluate her eligibility to compete in women’s cricket following her gender-affirming surgery and hormone replacement therapy.

From January to March 2025, Anaya, a 23-year-old athlete, engaged in an intensive eight-week study aimed at assessing her physiological profile post-transition. This research measured key athletic metrics such as glucose levels, oxygen uptake, muscle mass, strength, and endurance. The results, proudly shared on Anaya's Instagram, demonstrate that her physical metrics are comparable to those of cisgender female athletes, supporting her claim of eligibility for women's cricket under current scientific standards.

These findings present a direct challenge to the International Cricket Council's (ICC) 2023 policy banning transgender athletes from competing in women’s cricket. This policy, enacted during a board meeting in Ahmedabad, India, precludes trans women who have experienced male puberty from participating, despite undergoing gender-affirming surgery or hormone therapy. The rule, intended to uphold the "integrity, safety, and fairness" of women’s cricket, has been met with criticism for its exclusionary stance.

Anaya Bangar is calling for a more informed dialogue with cricket authorities like the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the ICC. In her words, “I am talking with scientific evidence in my hand, so I hope this makes an impact and I will be hoping to BCCI and ICC talking with me and discussing this further.”

Anaya’s social media platforms have become a beacon of advocacy, where she shared documents validating her participation in the Manchester study. The research confirmed her vital metrics—including haemoglobin, blood glucose, peak power, and mean power—are aligned with those of cisgender female athletes. While her initial fasting blood glucose was slightly above the non-diabetic range, subsequent tests showed normalization, reinforcing the study's conclusion that her athletic profile meets the standards for female athletes.

In communications to the BCCI and ICC, Anaya emphasized the non-political nature of the study, which serves as a catalyst for a science-driven discussion on fairness and inclusion in cricket. She urged these governing bodies to prioritize empirical data over assumptions and called for the development of policies that balance inclusivity with competitive integrity.

“I am releasing my report and story publicly not for sympathy, but for truth. Because inclusion does not mean ignoring fairness, it means measuring it, transparently and responsibly,” Anaya expressed in her letter to the BCCI. She seeks to meet with representatives from these organizations to present her findings and discuss potential policy pathways, aiming for a future where athletes are evaluated based on real data rather than outdated perceptions.

Before transitioning, Anaya played cricket for Islam Gymkhana in Mumbai and Hinckley Cricket Club in the U.K., showcasing her talent in domestic cricket circuits. Her father, Sanjay Bangar, was a notable all-rounder for the Indian national team and later contributed as a batting coach, highlighting the cricket legacy she continues.

Cricket is a cultural phenomenon in India, with over 1 billion fans and the BCCI generating substantial revenue from events like the Indian Premier League. Women’s cricket in India is also thriving, with the Women’s Premier League drawing over 300 million viewers in 2024.

Indrani Chakraborty, an LGBTQ rights activist, voiced her support for Anaya, asserting that preventing her from playing due to her transgender status is both discriminatory and unjust. "A trans woman is definitely the same as a cis woman emotionally and in vitals, especially when on hormone therapy," she stated, emphasizing the need for acceptance and awareness.

Chakraborty criticized the policies as regressive and urged society to come together for justice. "If today, we remain silent, the entire community will be oppressed," she warned, advocating for greater understanding of gender issues.

Despite repeated requests, neither the BCCI nor the ICC have responded to calls for comment on Anaya’s case. However, the conversation she has sparked is essential for the future of inclusivity in sports, highlighting the need for policies that reflect current scientific understanding and respect for all athletes.