Bangar targets March 2027 for elite women's cricket return
Former Mumbai U-19 cricketer Anaya Bangar has been cleared to play community cricket in Australia, with a specific policy pathway established to pursue elite status and potential selection for the Women's Big Bash League.
Anaya Bangar has set a definitive timeline for her return to competitive cricket in Australia, targeting March 2027 as the key date for her bid to enter elite women's cricket. The 25-year-old former Mumbai U-19 player, who is the daughter of ex-India batting coach Sanjay Bangar, has been cleared by Cricket Australia to participate in community cricket while she works towards her long-term goals.
Cricket Australia has provided Bangar with a structured pathway to pursue elite competition, including a potential spot in the Women's Big Bash League. However, the governing body has emphasised that this clearance is not an automatic selection. Instead, it serves as a framework designed to balance fairness, competitive integrity, and inclusion within women's sport.
Bangar has clarified that her case has been considered through this specific institutional framework rather than an informal process. She noted that while she has been given a pathway, this does not equate to a guaranteed place in a team. The player remains committed to training and competing to earn any future opportunities that may arise.
Under Cricket Australia's Transgender and Gender Diverse Players in Elite Cricket Policy, Bangar's eligibility for elite status is contingent on meeting specific hormonal criteria. The policy requires a player's serum testosterone concentration to remain below 10 nmol/L for at least 12 months to qualify for elite competition.
Her eligibility will be formally assessed from March 2027, which includes a required blood test. If this assessment confirms that she continues to meet the necessary testosterone criteria, she will be eligible to pursue elite women's cricket. Until then, her immediate plan is to secure a club and play community cricket in Australia to maintain her competitive form.
The March 2027 checkpoint represents a critical juncture in Bangar's career, where policy requirements intersect with individual performance. As she navigates this pathway, the focus remains on her ability to meet the governing body's standards while establishing herself in the Australian cricket landscape.
