Fri Apr 18 04:22:41 UTC 2025: ## Former Cricketer’s Child, Anaya Bangar, Speaks Out About Transphobia in Cricket

**London, UK** – Anaya Bangar, the child of former Indian cricketer and coach Sanjay Bangar, has shared her experiences of transitioning and facing transphobia within the cricket world. In a recent interview with Lallantop, Anaya, who underwent hormonal replacement therapy and gender-affirming surgery last year, detailed the challenges of pursuing a cricket career after transitioning.

Anaya, who played age-group cricket and identifies as female, revealed that she knew her gender identity from a young age. “When I was eight or nine, I’d wear my mom’s clothes and look in the mirror and say, ‘I am a girl. I want to be a girl’,” she stated.

Playing alongside current prominent cricketers, Anaya maintained secrecy about her transition due to her father’s public profile. She described the cricket world as filled with “toxic masculinity” and insecurity. Since her surgery, she has experienced both support and harassment, including receiving unsolicited nude photographs and enduring verbal abuse, even instances of predatory behavior from a veteran cricketer.

Anaya, a left-handed batter who has represented Islam Gymkhana and Hinckley Cricket Club, is currently unable to compete at the international level following the ICC’s November 2023 decision to ban transgender athletes from women’s cricket. The ICC cited concerns about the integrity of the women’s game and player safety.

Anaya expressed her disappointment with the ICC’s ruling on Instagram, highlighting the importance of inclusivity in sports. She currently resides in Manchester and remains active on social media, keeping her followers updated on her journey. Her story underscores the need for greater inclusivity and awareness of trans issues within the sporting world.

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