Anaya Bangar Eligible to Play Women’s Cricket in Australia From 2027

In a landmark decision marking a significant stride for inclusivity in sports, transgender cricketer Anaya Bangar has been cleared by Cricket Australia (CA) to participate in female community cricket across the country. This announcement, coming today, August 25, 2026, marks a pivotal moment in the 25-year-old’s journey to return to the sport she loves following gender-affirming surgery, with aspirations of making her competitive women’s cricket debut in 2027.

A Personal and Sporting Breakthrough

Anaya Bangar, whose father is former India all-rounder and men’s team batting coach Sanjay Bangar, shared her emotional relief and gratitude following the clearance. "It’s a great day for me, especially after knowing the fact that I can play cricket. There was a stage where I thought I would never play cricket again, but thanks to Cricket Australia, it has given me another chance," Anaya told The Indian Express. Her social media activity had previously teased her eagerly anticipated return to the field after a personal battle to reclaim her place in cricket. Anaya Bangar to Play in Women's 'Elite' Cricket, Reveals Comeback in 2027.

Path to Professional Cricket Still Ahead

While the immediate green light is for community cricket, her eligibility for professional cricket in Australia is still "some time away". Cricket Australia's "Transgender and Gender Diverse Players in Elite Cricket Policy" mandates that a player's serum testosterone must be below 10 nmol/L (nanomoles per litre) for a minimum of 12 months to qualify for elite-level play. Jacqui Partridge, CA's Head of Integrity, conveyed in a letter to Anaya that her eligibility for Elite Cricket from March 2027 is conditional upon a blood test confirming her serum testosterone concentration remains below 10 nmol/L upon her arrival in Australia, alongside continued adherence to the Policy’s requirements.

Partridge further clarified the distinction for community-level play, stating, "Until March 2027, you remain eligible to participate in Premier Cricket competitions in any State or Territory of Australia. As Premier Cricket is classified as Community Cricket rather than Elite Cricket under the Policy, your participation in those competitions isn’t affected by this determination".

Overcoming Challenges and Looking Forward

Anaya, who previously played age-group cricket for Mumbai alongside Test-capped batter Sarfaraz Khan and his brother Musheer Khan, revealed the profound impact of her transition. "Honestly, the journey since the beginning was very painful, not just physically, but emotionally. My whole life changed: family dynamics, friendships, career, social focus, everything changed," she reflected. She also disclosed that a 2025 inquiry to the BCCI regarding eligibility criteria for women’s cricket has yet to receive a response.

Despite still recovering from her gender-affirming surgery, Anaya is actively seeking a club in Australia to resume playing. Her perspective on Cricket Australia's stance is clear: "I genuinely could not believe that I would be able to play ever again. Because of Cricket Australia and its progressive and inclusive policies, which focus on fairness and inclusion in women’s sport for trans women, this is a huge milestone, not just for me, but for other athletes like me who want to try, but are not because they have to either choose the sport or choose transition". Anaya Bangar Takes Gully Cricket Challenge, Video Goes Viral.

This development not only opens a new chapter for Anaya Bangar but also reinforces Cricket Australia's commitment to fostering an inclusive environment within the sport, setting a precedent for transgender athletes aspiring to compete at various levels.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 25, 2026 06:42 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).