Anaya Bangar expressed her joy at being able to play cricket again, sharing that she once feared she would never return to the sport. She thanked Cricket Australia for giving her another chance. Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not yet decided how transgender women can participate in the sport, while the International Cricket Council (ICC) recently banned individuals who went through male puberty from elite women’s international cricket.
Danielle McGahey became the first transgender cricketer to play an official international game. However, her career was cut short after six games due to the ICC’s policy on transgender athletes. Anaya mentioned that she has not yet received a clear response from BCCI regarding her situation.
Cricket Australia allowed Anaya to start playing community cricket immediately after reviewing her medical records and research. However, she is not eligible for top-level cricket in Australia yet. She must meet specific criteria, including maintaining her serum testosterone level below 10 nmol/L for at least 12 months. If she meets these requirements by March 2027, she could potentially play in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL).
Anaya described this as a significant milestone not just for herself but also for other athletes facing similar challenges.