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Anaya Bangar, previously known as Aryan, took to Instagram to share a reel about her journey with the sport, through the years as she transitioned, showcasing her varied experiences
Anaya had earlier shared this photo showcasing their transition from Aryan (L) to Anaya (R) after surgery (Instagram)
It doesn’t matter who you are, the game never sees anyone differently. For 23-year-old Anaya Bangar, daughter of former Indian cricket Sanjay Bangar, nothing resonates deeper than the same, as she shared her journey with the game of cricket through her years for the world to witness.
Anaya, who was initially referred to as Aryan by birth, is a transgender woman who takes to the crease as a left-handed batter.
It is believed that Anaya play for a local cricket club, Islam Gymkhana after which she went on to represent Hinckley Cricket Club in Leicestershire.
Now, as a resident of Manchester in England, it is understood that she also plays cricket for a county club, not specified.
Recently, Anaya took to Instagram to share a reel about her journey with the sport, through the years as she transitioned, showcasing her varied experiences that include meeting the likes of Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni.
The same reel also showed glimpses into her skill as a batter, highlighting an innings where she scored 145 runs.
But, the unfortunate reality for Anaya and many other transgender women is that the ICC and ECB have both deemed it unfair to allow them to partake in women’s cricket.
The ICC, in November 2023, announced that any player who has transitioned from male to female and has been through any form of male puberty will not be allowed to participate in women’s international cricket, regardless of any surgery or gender reassignment treatment they may have undertaken.
And even more recently, the ECB followed suit, banning transgender women from playing at the elite level of women’s domestic cricket from 2025.
Atleast the ICC said it would review its rule within two years. The ECB has not specified whether it will also carry out a review once its own regulations come into effect.
Anaya, who is painfully aware of the realities, had also earlier posted about the same on her Instagram, sharing her greivances over the unfair nature of the ruling.
“I never though I’d have to consider giving up the sport that has been my passion, my love, and my escape. But here I am, facing a painful reality… The game I’ve loved for so long is slipping away from me,” Anaya wrote.
“What hurts more is that there are no proper regulations for trans women in cricket. It feels like the system is forcing me out, not because I lack the drive or talent, but because the rules haven’t caught up with the reality of who I am,” continued Anaya.
Inclusion of transgender athletes in sport unfortunately continues to be a heated topic of discussion. Yet, what needs to be pointed out are the harsh realities that exist, which undoubtedly pose one major obstacle after another for transgender people.
With policies concerning the legal age for transitioning and sporting bodies’ rulings not aligning, there exists far too many obstacles which need to be addressed effectively. For the reality is that it’s the systems in place and the bodies in power that seem to view people differently, but never the game itself.
