Anaya Bangar challenges ban on trans women in female cricket teams

Anaya Bangar, daughter of former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar, has collaborated with the Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport in the U.K. to evaluate her physiological profile after her gender-affirming surgery and hormone replacement therapy.

Between January and March 2025, the 23-year-old participated in an eight-week research initiative that tracked her glucose levels, oxygen consumption, muscle mass, strength, and endurance after rigorous training, according to ‘Washington Blade’.

The results, shared on Instagram, showed her metrics align with those of cisgender female athletes, making her eligible for women’s cricket under current scientific standards. Bangar’s findings challenge the ICC’s 2023 ban on transgender athletes in women’s cricket, encouraging her to seek a science-based discussion with the BCCI and ICC to reform trans inclusion policies.

“I am presenting scientific evidence,” Bangar stated in an interview shared on her Instagram page. “I hope this makes a difference, and I look forward to engaging with the BCCI and ICC.”

On November 21, 2023, the ICC implemented a contentious policy barring trans women from international women’s cricket. Finalised at a board meeting in Ahmedabad, India, the regulation prevents any trans player who experienced male puberty from competing, regardless of surgeries or hormone therapy. Created after a nine-month consultation led by the ICC’s Medical Advisory Committee, the rule aims to protect the “integrity, safety, and fairness” of women’s cricket, though it has been criticised for excluding athletes like Canada’s Danielle McGahey, the first trans woman to play internationally. The policy, allowing domestic boards to set their own rules, is due for review by November 2025.

Bangar posted a document on social media confirming her participation in a physiological study at the Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport from January 20 to March 3, 2025, focused on cricket performance. The report verified her vital metrics — including haemoglobin, blood glucose, peak power, and mean power — matched those of cisgender female athletes. Initially, her fasting blood glucose was 6.1 mmol/L, slightly above the standard non-diabetic range of 4.0–5.9 mmol/L, but later tests showed normalisation, supporting the study’s conclusions that her physical profile aligns with female athletic standards.

“I am submitting this to the BCCI and ICC with full transparency and hope,” said Bangar. “My sole aim is to initiate a conversation grounded in facts, not fear. To create space, not division.”

In a letter to the BCCI and ICC, Bangar underlined her test results from the Manchester Metropolitan University study. She explained that the research aimed to examine how hormone therapy had affected her strength, stamina, haemoglobin, glucose levels, and overall performance, compared directly with cisgender female athlete standards.

Bangar’s letter clarified that the Manchester study was meant as a catalyst for a science-focused dialogue on fairness and inclusion in cricket, not a political statement. She stressed the importance of prioritising empirical data over assumptions to inform equitable policies for trans athletes in the sport.

Bangar urged the BCCI, the world’s most powerful cricket body, to start a formal discussion on trans women’s inclusion in women’s cricket, grounded in medical science, performance metrics, and ethical fairness. She called for exploring eligibility criteria based on sport-specific standards, such as haemoglobin thresholds, testosterone suppression timelines, and standardised performance testing. She also advocated for partnerships with experts, athletes, and legal advisors to create policies balancing inclusivity with competitive integrity.

“I am releasing my report and story publicly not for sympathy, but for truth. Because inclusion does not mean ignoring fairness, it means measuring it transparently and responsibly,” stated Bangar in a letter to the BCCI. “I would greatly appreciate an opportunity to meet with you or a representative of the BCCI or ICC to present my findings, discuss possible policy pathways, and work towards a future where every athlete is judged based on real data, not outdated perceptions.”

Before her transition, Bangar played for Islam Gymkhana in Mumbai and Hinckley Cricket Club in the U.K., showcasing her talent in domestic cricket leagues. Her father, Sanjay Bangar, served as a reliable all-rounder for the Indian national cricket team from 2001 to 2004, participating in 12 Test matches and 15 ODIs. He later became the Indian team’s batting coach from 2014 to 2019, contributing to strategic development.

Cricket in India is a cultural phenomenon, captivating a fanbase of over 1 billion people, with more than 80 percent of global cricket viewership originating from the country.

The International Cricket Council, the sport’s governing body, supervises 12 full member nations and over 90 associate members, with the U.S. having gained associate member status in 2019 and co-hosting the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The BCCI generated around $2.25 billion (approximately £1.6 billion) in revenue in the 2023–24 financial year, mainly from the IPL, bilateral series, and ICC revenue sharing. The ICC earns over $3 billion (approximately £2.1 billion) from media rights in India alone for the 2024–27 cycle, contributing nearly 90 percent of its global media rights earnings, with the BCCI receiving 38.5 percent of the ICC’s yearly earnings, approximately $231 million (approximately £168 million) annually.

Women’s cricket in India enjoys a growing fanbase, with over 300 million viewers for the Women’s Premier League in 2024, significantly driving the sport’s global popularity. The ICC governs women’s cricket in 12 full member nations and over 90 associate members, with the U.S.A. fielding a women’s team since gaining associate status in 2019 and competing in ICC events like the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup qualifiers. The BCCI invests significantly in women’s cricket, allocating around $60 million (approximately £43.6 million) annually to the WPL and domestic programs in 2024–25 while contributing to the ICC’s $20 million (approximately £14.6 million) budget for women’s cricket development globally. India’s media market for women’s cricket, including WPL broadcasting rights, generated $120 million (approximately £87.3 million) in 2024, accounting for over 50 percent of the ICC’s women’s cricket media revenue.

“As a woman, I feel when someone says that they are women, then they are, whether trans or cis. A trans woman is exactly the same as a cis woman emotionally and in vitals, especially when someone is on hormone replacement therapy. Preventing Anaya Bangar from playing is discrimination and a violation of her rights. It is very sad and painful that every trans woman has to fight and prove their identity everywhere,” said Indrani Chakraborty, an LGBTQ rights activist and a mother of a trans woman. “If the ICC and BCCI are preventing her from playing because she is transgender, then I would attribute this to their lack of awareness and, of course, societal mindsets that reject acceptance.”

Chakraborty told the Blade that Bangar is an asset no matter what. She said that the women’s cricket team would only benefit from participation, but discriminatory policies are a barrier.

“The transgender community faces discrimination in every sphere. Despite being capable, they face rejection. This is highly inhumane. These attitudes are regressive and will never allow progress. Are we really in 2025?” said Chakraborty. “We, our mindset, and society are the issues. We, as a whole, need to become aware and unite to seek justice for Anaya. If we remain silent today, the entire community will be oppressed. Proper understanding of gender issues is needed.”