Anaya Bangar Announces International Cricket Allowance, Will She Play For India?

Anaya Bangar [Source: Instagram]

Anaya Bangar has once again put cricket at the centre of her story, this time with a major announcement about a return that could open a new chapter in her career. 

The daughter of former India cricketer Sanjay Bangar has been away from competitive women's cricket while navigating her transition and a long-running eligibility battle.

Now, after months of medical assessments, documentation and discussions with an unnamed cricket organisation, Anaya has indicated that the wait may finally be nearing its end. 

Anaya Bangar announces 2027 comeback to women's cricket

Anaya has announced that she is set to make her comeback to women's elite cricket in 2027, revealing that she has received clearance from an organisation whose identity she is currently keeping private.

Sharing the development with her followers on social media, Anaya said, "I have good news to share, which is that I will be making my comeback in Women's Elite Cricket in 2027. And I want to share many things about it, but can't do that right now. I can just say that I have got my clearance from the organisation."

The announcement is significant because Anaya Bangar's return has never been simply about getting back onto a cricket field. Her eligibility to compete in women's cricket has been at the centre of her journey since she publicly spoke about her transition and subsequently began exploring whether her post-transition physiological profile could satisfy the requirements for elite competition.

According to Anaya, an organisation has now examined the medical and physiological information she submitted, including a Manchester University report, additional blood tests and details of surgeries she has undergone.

Explaining the development in a conversation, Anaya said, "There is a certain organization (which I can't name yet) that studied the Manchester University report I provided a year ago, along with additional blood tests and surgeries I've had since then. They reviewed it with a team of medical experts, and this organization allows trans women to play in women's cricket," as quoted by HT.

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Anaya hints date of her cricket comeback

Anaya has not yet named the organisation, nor has she announced that she has received clearance from the ICC or the BCCI.

In fact, the organisation appears to be separate from the global governing body, with Anaya suggesting that an official announcement could come later.

When asked whether the organisation was based in India or overseas and when the public could expect to know more, she replied, "This isn't a small-time organization. It's huge. I can't tell you if it's in India or outside. The world can expect the official announcement soon."

"I can clarify that this is an international cricket, cause ICC has already stated their ban. This isn't gonna be like a World Cup or a Champions Trophy, I would say... It might be a while until you actually find out about this, but should be by the end of this year or first half of 2027," Anaya Bangar added.

Will Anaya Bangar play for India?

For now, it would be premature to say that Anaya is on course to play for the Indian women's cricket team.

The ICC's existing gender eligibility regulations remain a major barrier. In November 2023, the ICC approved regulations stating that male-to-female transgender players who have undergone male puberty are not eligible to participate in international women's cricket, irrespective of whether they have subsequently undergone surgery or gender reassignment treatment.

The ICC also made an important distinction between international and domestic cricket. Its 2023 policy specifically stated that the regulation applies to international women's cricket, while eligibility at domestic level is a matter for individual member boards and can also be affected by local legislation.

Therefore, Anaya's announcement of clearance from an unnamed organisation should not currently be interpreted as clearance to play for India. 

There has been no announcement from the ICC or BCCI stating that Anaya is eligible to represent India in women's international cricket.

Anaya Bangar finds cricket field after days of struggling with identity

Before becoming one of the most prominent voices in India's conversation around transgender participation in sport, Anaya was already deeply connected to cricket.

She is the daughter of former India cricketer and coach Sanjay Bangar and had developed as a left-handed batter, playing cricket through the Mumbai system and later featuring for clubs in England.

Her life changed dramatically when she began publicly discussing her transition. Anaya has spoken about undergoing hormone replacement therapy and the physical changes that followed, describing the process as a "second puberty".

Notably, Anaya worked with Manchester Metropolitan University and prepared physiological data to present to cricket's governing authorities.

 A 2026 academic review examining transgender athletes in India also identified Anaya Bangar's case as an example of the tension between categorical eligibility rules and calls for more individualised, evidence-based assessments.

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