Anaya Bangar Secures Cricket Australia Clearance for Elite Women’s Cricket and WBBL Eligibility

Anaya Bangar has received formal clearance from Cricket Australia to participate in elite women’s cricket within the country. The 25-year-old cricketer, who is the daughter of former Indian all-rounder Sanjay Bangar, is now eligible to be considered for the Women’s Big Bash League starting from March 2027.

What Happened

Cricket Australia approved Bangar’s eligibility to compete in elite women’s cricket competitions across the country. According to reports, this ruling will not be affected by any future changes to Cricket Australia’s policy regarding transgender and gender-diverse players.

Before transitioning, Bangar played junior cricket for Islam Gymkhana in Mumbai as well as for Hinckley Cricket Club located in Leicestershire, England. In her preparation to secure eligibility under Cricket Australia’s guidelines, she submitted scientific data confirming her athletic parameters following hormone replacement therapy completed in June 2025. She also underwent gender-affirming vaginoplasty surgery in March 2026.

Speaking to the Bombay Times, Bangar described the development as an emotional milestone, noting that stepping away from the game during her transition was deeply challenging because she once feared she had lost cricket permanently.

Key Highlights

• Cricket Australia granted clearance to 25-year-old Anaya Bangar to play elite women’s cricket.
• The determination makes her eligible to play in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) starting from March 2027 onwards.
• The decision remains binding regardless of prospective amendments to Cricket Australia’s transgender and gender-diverse player policy.
• Bangar submitted scientific documentation following hormone replacement therapy in June 2025 and had gender-affirming vaginoplasty surgery in March 2026.
• In the lead-up to the WBBL, she is permitted to take part in Premier Cricket leagues across Australian states and territories.
• The clearance establishes her eligibility but does not automatically guarantee a franchise contract.

Why This Matters

This decision establishes Bangar’s competitive path forward within the Australian cricket structure after a period away from the sport. Prior to the clearance, stepping away from the game was an emotional hurdle, given her competitive junior cricket background in India and England.

Importantly, Cricket Australia’s ruling provides regulatory certainty for Bangar, as her clearance is protected from potential future changes to the governing body’s gender-diverse participation regulations. Bangar has expressed hope that her journey will contribute constructively to ongoing discussions regarding sports governance.

What to Watch Next

Bangar’s immediate focus is competing in Australia’s domestic setup. In the interim period leading up to March 2027, she is eligible to participate in Premier Cricket competitions across any state or territory in Australia, giving her regular match exposure against competitive players.

Because the clearance does not guarantee a spot on a team, Bangar will need to earn selection through performance. WBBL franchises recruit overseas cricketers via an overseas-player draft and contracting system, comparable to mechanisms used in the Indian Premier League and the Women’s Premier League. Her next challenge will be building physical and competitive form to secure consideration from franchise decision-makers.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will Anaya Bangar be eligible to play in the WBBL?

She is cleared to be eligible for Women’s Big Bash League selection beginning in March 2027.

Does the Cricket Australia clearance guarantee her a WBBL contract?

No. The clearance purely establishes her eligibility to compete. She will need to enter the WBBL contracting and overseas draft system to earn a spot on a franchise roster.

Can Bangar play cricket in Australia before March 2027?

Yes. During the interim period, she has permission to compete in Premier Cricket across any Australian state or territory to gain match fitness and performance opportunities.

What medical criteria were submitted for her clearance?

Bangar presented scientific reports verifying her athletic eligibility following hormone replacement therapy in June 2025, alongside undergoing gender-affirming vaginoplasty surgery in March 2026.

Source: Based on reporting from CricTracker and Bangar’s interview with the Bombay Times.