Cricket Australia have opened the door to trans inclusion, but will others follow?

Trans Inclusion in Cricket: Australia Opens the Door, But Who Else Will Follow?

The debate around trans women playing elite domestic cricket has flared up again, this time with Anaya Bangar announcing she's chasing an elite pathway in Australia.

Who is Bangar?

Bangar brings a fascinating backdrop to this conversation. She played age-group cricket in India alongside future men's international stars like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sarfaraz Khan. Her father, Sanjay Bangar, played 12 Tests for India and went on to coach the national team's bats. With over a million Instagram followers—five times that of England's Nat Sciver-Brunt—she's been open about her transition and her quest to compete competitively.

The Policy Mess

Bangar's case exposes huge inconsistencies across cricket's governing bodies. She's pointedly criticized the BCCI for staying silent. "In their rule book, there's no such thing as a trans woman or a trans man," she told Wisden. "It's a grey area." She wrote to the BCCI for clarity and got no response.

Compare that to Cricket Australia, which allows her to play Premier Cricket despite never having played domestically there. CA takes a case-by-case approach, with an expert panel weighing testosterone levels (below 10 nmol/L for 12 months), stamina, physique, and supporting documentation.

The Science Question

Here's where it gets contested. Bangar submitted an Athlete Testing Report from Manchester Metropolitan University research. But Prof Alun Williams—not involved in that programme—says such reports aren't "intended for wider use" and governing bodies shouldn't just trust another org's measurements.

The bigger scientific debate: testosterone as a measure. Williams notes that dropping below 10 nmol/L still sits "significantly above the typical female range," and that puberty's physical benefits persist even after hormonal treatment. "Doing that after puberty is too late," he says.

Why Cricket's Different

Unlike strength-based contact sports (rugby, boxing), cricket is skill-driven. Men and women play together recreationally, suggesting physical gaps aren't huge at baseline. The real concern at elite level is safety—can a bowler who went through male puberty bowl fast enough to threaten a batter?

Williams' bottom line: "The best argument has to be that despite those physical differences... it's just the right thing to do."

The Global Picture

- ICC: Blanket ban on anyone who went through male puberty in international women's cricket, leaving domestic rules to national bodies.

- ECB: Immediate ban after last year's UK Supreme Court ruling.

- BCCI & CSA: No public policy; neither responded for comment.

- Cricket Australia: The outlier—allowing a pathway AND a detailed assessment policy.

Where Does This Leave Bangar?

She hasn't been cleared for the WBBL yet (potentially March next year). Even then, she'll navigate the Australian domestic system like everyone else. She's not kicking off a wave of trans players—rather, her case highlights how narrow the options are. Right now, Australia is the only real door open for trans women wanting to play elite cricket.

Source: Wisden