Anaya Bangar, the 23-year-old daughter of former India cricketer Sanjay Bangar, has publicly called on cricket’s governing bodies to recognize and include transgender athletes in the women’s game—backed by a scientific report she says proves her eligibility.
Currently, the International Cricket Council (ICC) bans transgender athletes from participating in women’s international cricket. The decision, made in late 2023 following the ODI World Cup, has drawn criticism from some quarters—but Anaya’s campaign represents the most high-profile and data-driven challenge to date.
Scientific proof, not opinions
After completing a year of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), Anaya collaborated with researchers at Manchester Metropolitan University in the UK, where she now resides, to conduct structured physiological assessments. The comprehensive testing measured her muscle strength, endurance, glucose levels, and oxygen utilization—all benchmarked against norms for cisgender female athletes.
The results, she says, confirm her physiological parameters align with those of female athletes, and she’s using the data to advocate for policy change.
“For the first time, I’m sharing the scientific report that documents my journey as a trans woman athlete. Over the past year, I’ve undergone structured physiological assessments after starting hormone therapy. This report captures the real, measurable impact of my transition not opinions, not assumptions, but data,” Anaya said in a video posted on Instagram.
A plea to BCCI and ICC
In the video, Anaya revealed she will formally submit the eight-page report to the ICC and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), accompanied by a personal appeal to initiate fact-based discussions around transgender inclusion in cricket.
“I’m submitting this to the BCCI and ICC, with full transparency and hope. My only intention is to start a conversation based on facts not fear. To build space, not divide it. Whether you agree or not, thank you for witnessing.”
Her Instagram post has since gone viral, sparking conversations across the cricket and sports community.
A question for the world
The video also included a pointed message in Hindi, raising a broader question about societal readiness to engage with evidence-based discussions on gender and sport.
“Science kehta hai main women’s cricket ke liye eligible hoon. Ab sawaal yeh hai kya duniya tayyar hai sach sunne ke liye?”
(“Science says I am eligible for women’s cricket. Now, the question is whether the world [is] ready to accept the truth?”)
Background and context
Anaya, who was previously named Aryan, underwent both hormone therapy and gender reaffirming surgery in 2023. Her father, Sanjay Bangar, played 12 Tests and 15 ODIs for India and later served as the national team’s batting coach from 2014 to 2019. While he has not publicly commented on Anaya’s campaign, the family connection adds to the visibility of her initiative.
With transgender athletes increasingly raising challenges to exclusionary policies across global sports, Anaya Bangar’s data-driven approach could become a key moment in cricket’s evolving dialogue on gender identity and inclusion.
