Anaya Bangar & Marizanne Kapp (In Circle) | Photo Courtesy: AFP
Ever since Cricket Australia gave full clearance to Anaya Bangar to play women’s Community Cricket in their country, she has been cleared to play the upcoming Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL).
Even though there is still no firm bid for her participation in WBBL 2026, Marizanne Kapp, one of the greatest ever players in women’s cricket, shared her thoughts on the subject.
And the South African international showed absolutely zero respect for Anaya Bangar while delivering her verdict on Bangar’s WBBL future.
Marizanne Kapp Takes Strong Stance On Anaya Bangar
On Instagram, Kapp shared a story on Friday, opining there is no way women’s cricket should welcome Anaya Bangar, who had gender-affirming surgery in Thailand in March this year.
While mentioning Australia Daily Official’s post where the headline read Transgender cricketer cleared to play Women’s Big Bash, Marizanne Kapp’s caption read: “Absolutely ridiculous, this should NOT be allowed!” She also tagged WBBL in that story.
Earlier in her career, Anaya Bangar played as a top-order batter for Mumbai Men U19, alongside many popular Indian cricketers, including Sarfaraz Khan and Musheer Khan.
Also Read: Anaya Bangar Not Alone: List Of Transgender Cricketers In Women's Team
Later on, Anaya often spoke about transgender athletes in different sports and became the most sought-after profile to discuss before Australia granted her full clarity to play, including WBBL participation.
Does Marizanne Kapp Play WBBL?
One of the finest all-rounders around the world, Kapp has played for four teams in WBBL. They are Sydney Sixers, Perth Scorchers, Sydney Thunder, and Melbourne Stars.
In 2024, Kapp signed a three-year contract with Melbourne Stars, meaning she will soon be wearing the same jersey.
WBBL 2026 will get underway on October 29, with a 38-match tournament to be played between six teams. 36-year-old Kapp, if things go well, will play in Match 2 against the Hobart Hurricanes at Junction Oval in Melbourne.
Which Indians Were In WBBL Before Anaya Bangar Talks?
Amidst the Anaya Bangar WBBL drama, there were many Indians who took part in the WBBL. Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur were the most popular names, followed by Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues.
More significantly, Harmanpreet Kaur won the Player of the Tournament award in 2021 after the conclusion of that edition’s WBBL. Back then, she used to represent Melbourne Renegades.
What Are The Chances Of Anaya Bangar Playing WBBL?
Cricket Australia (CA) recently made changes to the BBL and WBBL contract-signing policy. Hence, Anaya Bangar, unlike in previous seasons, can be approached directly by any WBBL team if they are interested in her services.
Moreover, the rules and regulations have been eased for BBL and WBBL for at least the next two years. That means the chances for Anaya Bangar playing WBBL increase; at least she is in a better position than the last few editions, where CA were strict with its policies.
Also Read: Anaya Bangar Announces International Cricket Allowance, Will She Play For India?
