'I am eligible to play WBBL from next year' - Anaya Bangar expresses joy after Cricket Australia clearance

Anaya Bangar, 25, has received clearance from Cricket Australia to pursue elite women's cricket in the country, opening the path for her to compete in the Women's Big Bash League from March 2027 onwards. The clearance represents a significant development for Bangar, who previously played junior cricket in Mumbai for Islam Gymkhana and in Leicestershire, England, for Hinckley Cricket Club before her transition. The determination will remain unaffected by any future amendments to Cricket Australia's transgender and gender-diverse player policy.

Bangar described the moment as deeply personal. She is the daughter of former Indian all-rounder Sanjay Bangar. In the lead-up to this clearance, Bangar presented scientific reports confirming her athletic eligibility following hormone replacement therapy in June 2025, and underwent gender-affirming vaginoplasty surgery in March 2026.

"I am now eligible to play in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) in Australia from March 2027 onwards. For me, this is incredibly emotional because there was a point when I genuinely believed I had lost cricket forever. Cricket has been such a fundamental part of my identity since childhood, and having to step away from the sport after my transition was one of the hardest things I experienced. So this isn’t simply about being included in a women’s league. It represents the possibility of returning to the sport I deeply love." Bangar told Bombay Times.

What does the Cricket Australia clearance mean for Bangar?

In the interim period before the WBBL season begins, Bangar will have the opportunity to compete in Premier Cricket competitions across any Australian state or territory. This provides her with a chance to perform at a high level while preparing for potential WBBL selection. The clearance from Cricket Australia does not guarantee a WBBL contract, but rather establishes her eligibility to be considered by franchises. However, she understands that she will have to work hard and perform to earn an opportunity to play for one of the WBBL franchises.

"Cricket Australia has allowed me to pursue elite women’s cricket in Australia. The next challenge is to get myself into the best possible physical and competitive shape and put myself in a position to be considered by a WBBL franchise. I still have to train, compete, perform and earn that opportunity," Bangar said.

She went on to explain how the overseas-player contracting and draft system function in the WBBL and why she will have to impress a franchise's decision-makers about her ability to contribute to the team's success.

"The WBBL has an overseas-player contracting and draft system, where clubs select from the pool of available international players, like it happens in the IPL or the WPL. So ultimately, I still have to convince a franchise that I can contribute to their team," Anaya said.

The path to this clearance has been challenging for Bangar, who faced the possibility of never returning to competitive cricket. She reflected on the emotional toll of stepping away from the sport after her transition.

"When you grow up playing cricket competitively, the idea of potentially never being able to play again is incredibly difficult. But I've also learned that I can't build my future around waiting for somebody else to make a decision," she explained.

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Looking ahead, Bangar expressed hope that her journey could contribute to broader conversations within sports governance.