Anaya Bangar, daughter of former India all-rounder and batting coach Sanjay Bangar, has received clearance from Cricket Australia to return to competitive cricket at the community level. The approval allows her to participate in Premier Cricket competitions across Australian states and territories under Cricket Australia’s Inclusion of Transgender and Gender Diverse Players in Elite Cricket Policy.
Bangar began her transition in 2022 and underwent gender-affirming surgery in March 2026. She had previously represented Mumbai at the Under-19 level before stepping away from competitive cricket during her transition. The latest clearance allows Bangar to resume playing women’s cricket while providing a potential pathway towards higher levels of the Australian game. Her eligibility for elite cricket from March 2027 will remain subject to the relevant criteria, including a requirement for her serum testosterone concentration to remain below 10 nmol/L.
The pathway could eventually open the door for Bangar to pursue opportunities in the Women’s Big Bash League. However, the clearance itself does not guarantee selection for any team, meaning she will still need to establish herself through performances on the field.
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Bangar had previously approached the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) while exploring the possibility of playing women’s cricket in India. She did not receive a response and subsequently pursued the Australian pathway.
Reflecting on her return to the sport, Anaya Bangar said the clearance was particularly significant because she had once believed cricket was no longer part of her future. “There was a point when I genuinely believed I had lost cricket forever.”
#WATCH | Mumbai, Maharashtra: On making a comeback in cricket, Anaya Bangar, a cricketer and the daughter of former Indian international cricketer and national batting coach, Sanjay Bangar, said, “…I am preparing to return to women’s cricket in Australia with the aim of… pic.twitter.com/NVgrICOjgT
— ANI (@ANI) August 27, 2026
She also stressed that the decision followed a formal process rather than being an automatic approval. “This has not been an automatic or an informal process. Cricket Australia has a framework designed to balance fairness, competitive integrity, and inclusion in women’s sport, and my case has been considered through that framework.”
For Bangar, the significance of the decision extends beyond her own playing career. She believes the pathway could offer encouragement to other transgender athletes who want to remain involved in competitive sport. “This is a huge milestone, not just for me, but for other athletes like me.”
The immediate focus, however, is on her cricketing comeback. Bangar will need to train, compete and perform consistently as she attempts to rebuild her career and progress through the Australian cricket system. She has also made it clear that the clearance should not be mistaken for guaranteed selection.
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“Cricket Australia has given me a pathway, which does not mean that I have been given a place in a team. I still have to train, compete, perform and earn that opportunity.” With the door now open for a return to competitive women’s cricket, Bangar will look to make the most of the opportunity and progress through the applicable eligibility pathway based on her performances.
