New Delhi: Sport has always been considered a prime example of inclusivity but Anaya Bangar, the daughter of former Indian cricketer and batting coach Sanjay Bangar, has come forward with disturbing claims of harassment from within the cricketing community. Anaya, who has transitioned genders and is now advocating for inclusivity in sports, revealed that some cricketers sent her unsolicited nude photographs and sexually inappropriate messages following her transition.
In a heartfelt interview with Lallantop, Anaya opened up about the emotional and psychological challenges she faced not just in society but within the very sport she once played with pride. She spoke about the loneliness of having to hide her identity during her early playing days when she was known as Aryan and shared the field with well-known players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sarfaraz Khan, and Musheer Khan.
अनाया बांगर पहले आर्यन बांगर के नाम से जानी जाती थीं. वो हॉर्मोन रिप्लेसमेंट थेरेपी की प्रक्रिया से गुजर रही हैं.
दी लल्लनटॉप से बातचीत में उन्होंने अपनी पहचान, संघर्ष और क्रिकेट के भीतर मौजूद ट्रांसफोबिया, टॉक्सिक मैस्क्युलिनिटी पर खुलकर बात की.https://t.co/8CExA8afLl
— The Lallantop (@TheLallantop) April 17, 2025
Anaya recalled instances where senior and even veteran cricketers verbally harassed her and crossed uncomfortable boundaries. “There was someone who would hurl abuses in front of everyone but later ask for my photos. One veteran cricketer even told me he wanted to sleep with me,” she said, highlighting the deeply troubling experiences she has had to endure.
Policy changes worsen the struggle for transgender athletes
Anaya’s revelations come at a time when cricket authorities are changing their stance on the participation of transgender women. The ICC recently ruled that transgender women who have undergone any form of male puberty are ineligible to compete in international women’s cricket. Following that, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) also announced a similar decision, which will apply from 2025 at the top levels of women’s domestic cricket. She even posted about the same on her Instagram earlier.
Anaya’s journey as a transgender cricketer has been far from easy. While she has played club cricket for Islam Gymkhana and represented Hinckley Cricket Club in England, the path to a professional career seems blocked. She has spoken out on Instagram against these new rules, calling them unfair and discouraging for those trying to live authentically while pursuing a career in the sport.
With regulations about the legal age for transitioning and verdicts from athletic authorities not aligning, there are far too many obstacles that need to be addressed effectively. For the truth is that the structures in place and the bodies in power appear to regard people differently, but never the game itself.
Anaya Bangar reveals harassment by cricketers post gender transition, calls out toxic culture and ICC bans on transgender women in cricket. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
