Transgender cricketer Anaya Bangar opens up about post-transition struggles

Anaya Bangar, daughter of former Indian cricketer and coach Sanjay Bangar, has shared her personal experience following her gender reaffirmation. An athlete like her father, Anaya, who previously went by the name Aryan, has encountered substantial challenges in pursuing a cricket career after her transition.

Anaya, now based in the UK, described the difficulty of her journey. In a recent interview, she discussed experiencing 'toxic masculinity' in the cricket world. When asked about her awareness of her gender identity, Anaya said, "I knew when I was eight or nine. I would wear my mother's clothes and tell myself, 'I am a girl. I want to be a girl'."

Experiences of Harassment

Anaya recounted playing alongside esteemed cricketers like Musheer Khan, Sarfaraz Khan, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. She kept her identity hidden, partly due to her father's status in the cricket community, which she described as rife with insecurity and toxic masculinity.

Post-transition, Anaya disclosed receiving mixed reactions within the cricket fraternity, some of which were troubling. "Some cricketers sent unsolicited inappropriate photographs," she revealed. She also spoke of being verbally harassed, "A person both insulted me and requested my pictures," she noted.

Adding to her challenges, Anaya described an uncomfortable incident involving inappropriate advances made by a veteran cricketer in India. In spite of these difficulties, Anaya continues to pursue her passion for cricket, having played for Islam Gymkhana and currently playing in England with Hinckley Cricket Club.

In November 2023, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced a ban on transgender athletes competing in women's cricket.