On the cusp of reclaiming her cricketing life, trans-athlete Anaya Bangar is unruffled by what the sceptics and critics have to say as she feels a bit of “education” is all it would take for them to come around. “Served with silence” by the BCCI when she first approached the Board for assistance in becoming a part of India’s women’s cricket set-up, the 25-year-old found support from Cricket Australia, which allowed her to compete at the community shield level. It’s been lonely, it’s been brutal, but it’s also been worth it.
On the cusp of reclaiming her cricketing life, trans-athlete Anaya Bangar revealed she was “served with silence” by the BCCI when she first approached the Board for assistance in becoming a part of India’s women’s cricket set-up.
In an exclusive interview to PTI, Anaya said she has been through a roller-coaster ride since the beginning of her transition in 2022, a process which culminated with a gender affirming surgery in March this year.
You feel very lonely, you feel like there’s no one who really understands out there,” she said. Anaya had given up hope of ever playing the game and although she is grateful towards her family for the support it offered for “necessities”, it is the universe that, she feels, changed her circumstances for the better. And throughout all this, I think the universe has backed me a lot, and here we are,” she said. “I would be happy to be a part of the team and provide my insights and gatherings throughout my whole journey and what would work best for our country and women’s sport in the future,” she said. Go through major changes, go through major family dynamic changes and everything,” she said. So, baby steps from here, but the major part of having a place to play has been cleared,” she said.
“…when you’re transitioning, and when you’re a trans-athlete, during this political climate in this world, it can get very isolating. “Everyone out there is trying to give you solutions, when you know that your own case is the right one. You know what is happening with you is injustice. So, during all of this, just the fact of being with myself, solitude has helped me a lot throughout all this,” added the left-arm spin bowling all-rounder, whose father is former India player and decorated coach Sanjay Bangar. “Right now, just hearing the news about Cricket Australia clearing me, and basically providing me a path to play women’s cricket, to play cricket as who I am is huge for me. “I never thought that I’ll be able to get (to) play cricket ever since the day I started transitioning. I just tried to put myself out there and see what happens, and whatever works, works. “To be honest, transitioning was always about being happy and comfortable in my own skin. And I had to take the necessary steps during that time in my life to basically give up the sport that I loved. “…basically now, the next role is to go there and play club cricket and prove myself by my performances, and if I do well, I hopefully might have a chance to be picked for the Women’s Big Bash League.
