‘Australia has given me pathway, not a place in team’: Anaya Bangar on WBBL dream

Anaya Bangar’s return to competitive cricket now has a potential timeline, with March 2027 set as the key date in her bid to pursue elite women’s cricket in Australia and potentially earn a route into the Women’s Big Bash League.The former Mumbai U-19 cricketer has been cleared by Cricket Australia to play community cricket and has been given a pathway to pursue elite women’s cricket, subject to the governing body’s eligibility requirements.Bangar, the daughter of former India cricketer and ex-India batting coach Sanjay Bangar, stressed that the clearance does not amount to selection for the WBBL or automatic entry into elite cricket. Instead, it gives her an opportunity to work towards that level.“I am preparing to return to women’s cricket in Australia with the aim of pursuing elite cricket from March 2027,” the 25-year-old said. “This has not been an automatic or an informal process. Cricket Australia has a framework designed to balance fairness, competitive integrity, and inclusion in women’s sport, and my case has been considered through that framework.”Bangar said she understands that she will have to earn any opportunity that comes her way.“Cricket Australia has given me a pathway, which does not mean that I have been given a place in a team. I still have to train, compete, perform and earn that opportunity,” she said.

March 2027 eligibility checkpoint

Bangar’s immediate plan is to find a club and play community cricket in Australia as she works towards a return to the competitive game. Her participation in elite competitions, including the WBBL, will depend on Cricket Australia’s Transgender and Gender Diverse Players in Elite Cricket Policy.Under the policy, a player’s serum testosterone concentration must remain below 10 nmol/L for at least 12 months to qualify for elite cricket.Bangar’s eligibility will be assessed from March 2027, including through a required blood test.“My understanding from Cricket Australia’s clearance is that my eligibility for elite women’s cricket from March 2027 remains subject to the applicable policy requirements, including a blood test assessment at the same time. If that March 2027 test confirms that I continue to meet the required testosterone criteria, I will be eligible to pursue selection for elite women’s cricket, including the Women’s Big Bash League pathway,” Bangar said.Meeting those requirements would allow Bangar to seek selection, but would not guarantee her a place in an elite team.“I don’t expect my history or my identity to earn me a place on a cricket team. I want my cricket to earn me a place on a cricket team,” she said.

Why Bangar approached Cricket Australia

Bangar had earlier sought clarity from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over whether transgender athletes could compete in women’s cricket in India. She said she received no response to a letter submitted last year.She subsequently approached Cricket Australia in June this year.According to Bangar, Cricket Australia assessed her medical records, blood tests, documents relating to her surgeries and a research report from Manchester Metropolitan University’s Institute of Sport before reaching its decision.“After I published my athlete testing report and everything else, BCCI stayed quiet about it. Whereas Cricket Australia actually read my report, went through all my medical history and had a proper team assessing my case,” Bangar said.“I approached Cricket Australia and they gave me clearance to play in terms of fairness and inclusivity.”Bangar is now looking for a club in Australia, with community cricket set to be the first step in her attempt to rebuild her playing career and eventually pursue an opportunity in elite women’s cricket.