Melbourne: Anaya Bangar, child of former India cricketer Sanjay Bangar, has received clearance from Cricket Australia to participate in elite women’s cricket in Australia from March 2027, a decision that makes her eligible for the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), subject to continued compliance with the governing body’s eligibility requirements.

Bangar shared details of the decision on social media after receiving an official communication from Cricket Australia. The decision was based on medical information submitted by her and represents an important step in her attempt to return to competitive cricket.

However, the clearance does not automatically mean that Bangar will receive a WBBL contract. She will still need to rebuild her fitness and pursue an opportunity with a team.

Cricket Australia grants elite cricket clearance

Cricket Australia’s decision means Bangar can participate in elite women’s cricket in the country from March 2027.

Under Cricket Australia’s policy, players competing in the women’s category of elite cricket must maintain a serum testosterone concentration below 10 nmol/L continuously for at least 12 months. Bangar will need to continue meeting the applicable eligibility conditions.

The WBBL is classified as elite cricket under Cricket Australia’s domestic framework, meaning the clearance makes Bangar eligible to pursue participation in the competition.

She will also be eligible for premier cricket competitions in Australian states and territories.

Bangar calls decision an emotional moment

Bangar described the Cricket Australia approval as an emotional moment, saying there had been a stage when she believed she would never play cricket again.

“I am now eligible to play in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) in Australia from March 2027 onwards,” Bangar told Bombay Times, according to NDTV Sports.

She also made it clear that the approval is only the beginning of the next stage of her cricket journey.

Bangar’s immediate focus will be on rebuilding her fitness before attempting to secure a place in Australia’s elite women’s domestic cricket structure.

The clearance therefore gives her an opportunity to pursue professional cricket, but selection will remain dependent on her performance, fitness and availability of contracts.

From age-group cricket to a potential WBBL return

Bangar has a background in cricket and previously played age-group cricket in Mumbai.

She played alongside Sarfaraz Khan and has continued to identify herself with cricket despite the challenges surrounding her eligibility to participate in women’s competitions.

Before her transition, Bangar was involved in the sport through age-group and local cricket. She later continued playing club cricket, including appearances for Islam Gymkhana and Hinckley Cricket Club in Leicestershire, according to earlier reports.

The Cricket Australia clearance now provides a potential pathway back into higher-level women’s domestic cricket.

Why the WBBL decision is significant

The Women’s Big Bash League is one of the leading domestic women’s T20 competitions in the world and attracts international players as well as Australia’s leading domestic cricketers.

Bangar’s eligibility therefore creates a potential route for her to compete at a high level if she can secure a contract.

The decision is particularly notable because domestic sporting policies can differ from international governing-body regulations.

Cricket Australia’s domestic policy allows Bangar to become eligible for elite women’s cricket in Australia from March 2027, provided she continues to satisfy the relevant requirements.

ICC rules remain different

The Cricket Australia decision does not change the International Cricket Council’s regulations.

The ICC does not permit transgender women who have undergone male puberty to participate in elite international women’s cricket.

This means the Cricket Australia clearance applies to domestic cricket in Australia and does not automatically provide eligibility for international women’s cricket under ICC regulations.

The distinction between domestic and international cricket is therefore important when assessing what Bangar can potentially play.

Her clearance allows her to pursue elite domestic competitions in Australia, including the WBBL, while ICC rules continue to govern international cricket.

Clearance does not guarantee a WBBL contract

Although the Cricket Australia decision makes Bangar eligible to play in the WBBL, she still needs to find a team willing to sign her.

WBBL contracts are determined by individual franchises, with players selected based on factors including performance, fitness, squad requirements and availability.

Bangar has acknowledged that the immediate priority is to rebuild her fitness before attempting to pursue a WBBL opportunity.

This means her potential return to the competition will be a process rather than an automatic entry following the Cricket Australia decision.

A new opportunity after uncertainty

Bangar has previously spoken publicly about the difficulties she faced in continuing her cricket career.

In 2025, she had urged the ICC and BCCI to consider the participation of transgender athletes in women’s cricket and shared an athlete testing report documenting physiological changes following hormone therapy.

At that time, she said she wanted discussions about eligibility to be based on scientific information and expressed hope that cricket’s governing bodies would reconsider their approach.

The latest Cricket Australia decision represents a significant change in her domestic cricket prospects.

March 2027 is the key date

The approval allows Bangar to participate in elite women’s cricket in Australia from March 2027, provided she continues to meet Cricket Australia’s eligibility requirements.

Until then, her focus is expected to remain on fitness and preparation.

The timing could potentially give her an opportunity to build towards the next stages of her cricket career before seeking a WBBL contract.

Her eligibility for premier cricket competitions in Australia also provides an avenue for competitive cricket before the March 2027 date.

What happens next?

The next challenge for Bangar will be on the cricket field.

The Cricket Australia approval removes a major eligibility barrier for domestic elite cricket, but she will still need to demonstrate that she can compete at the required level.

Fitness, match practice and performances in Australian domestic cricket could become important factors in determining whether a WBBL franchise considers her for a contract.

For now, the clearance gives Bangar something she had previously feared she had lost: a pathway back into competitive women’s cricket.

Conclusion

Cricket Australia’s decision has cleared Anaya Bangar to participate in elite women’s cricket in Australia from March 2027, making her eligible to pursue a place in the Women’s Big Bash League.

The decision is based on Cricket Australia’s domestic participation policy and remains subject to Bangar continuing to meet its eligibility requirements, including the applicable testosterone criteria.

However, eligibility should not be confused with selection. Bangar has not been guaranteed a WBBL contract and will first focus on rebuilding her fitness before pursuing an opportunity.

The decision also does not alter ICC regulations governing international women’s cricket. For Bangar, the immediate significance is that she now has a potential pathway into elite domestic cricket in Australia after a period of uncertainty over her playing future.