Anaya Bangar, the child of former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar, has made a heartfelt appeal to the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to support transgender cricketers. In a video shared on Instagram, Anaya stated that, based on scientific assessments, she is eligible to play women’s cricket. She raised an important question: “Is the world ready to accept this truth?”
Anaya, who was previously known as Aryan Bangar, has undergone gender transition through hormone replacement therapy over the past year and now identifies as a woman.
Currently, transgender athletes are not permitted to participate in women’s cricket. Anaya has strongly advocated for allowing transgender women to compete, sharing an eight-page scientific report in support of her case. Through this, she has sparked a broader discussion on whether transgender individuals should be deemed eligible for women’s cricket.
Anaya plans to present this scientific report, which documents her transition from male to transgender athlete, to both the ICC and BCCI. Alongside the video, she wrote, “Science says I am eligible to play women’s cricket. The real question is—Is the world ready to hear the truth?”
In the video, Anaya says, “For the first time, I’m sharing the scientific report of my journey as a trans woman athlete. After starting hormone therapy, I’ve undergone a structured physiological assessment for over a year. This report contains measurable impacts of my transition—not opinions, not assumptions, but data.”
She further adds, “I’m submitting this report to the BCCI and ICC with complete transparency and hope. My only aim is to initiate a conversation that’s driven by facts, not fear. It’s about creating space, not taking it away. Whether you agree or not, thank you for watching.”
