‘It was lonely, it was brutal’: Anaya Bangar embarks on a trance journey as Cricket Australia clears its way back to cricket

NEW DELHI: For Anaya Bangar, the prospect of a return to competitive cricket is much more than a return to the field. It represents the culmination of a lonely and emotionally difficult journey that began when she began transitioning in 2022.Now on the verge of reclaiming her cricketing life, the 25-year-old trans athlete says Cricket Australia’s decision to grant her a path into women’s cricket is a moment she once thought would never happen.“It was lonely, it was brutal, but it was also worth it,” Anaya told PTI.Her journey finally culminated in gender confirmation surgery this March. She approached Cricket Australia’s head of integrity Jacqui Partridge in June after learning about the governing body’s policy on transgender and gender diverse players. The process eventually resulted in CA clearing Anaya for the pathway to competitive women’s cricket, subject to policy eligibility requirements.“Right now, just hearing the news about Cricket Australia clearing me up and basically giving me a pathway to play women’s cricket, to play cricket as who I am, is huge for me,” she said.

“It can be very isolating”

Anaya admitted that the transition was an extremely difficult time, especially when dealing with the challenges of being a trans athlete in the current political climate.“…when you’re transitioning, and when you’re a trans athlete, it can be very isolating during this political climate in this world. You feel very alone, you feel like there’s no one out there who really understands,” she said.She found that being alone helped her deal with a situation where she often felt like others were trying to tell her what was best for her.“Everybody out there is trying to give you a solution when you know your case is the right one. You know what’s happening to you is an injustice. So through all of this, just being with myself has helped me a lot,” she added.Anaya, whose father is former India player and decorated coach Sanjay Bangar, said she eventually gave up hope of playing cricket again after starting her transition.“To be honest, emotionally I’m on my own, but I’m grateful for the support I’ve had from my family,” she said.“I never thought I would be able to play cricket from the day I started transitioning. I just tried to go out there and see what happens and whatever works, works. And through it all, I think the universe has been very supportive and here we are,” she added.

“The experience made me stronger and wiser”

Anaya said the experience of leaving the sport she loved, undergoing major personal changes and dealing with changing family dynamics ultimately made her stronger.

Do you think sports organizations should have specific policies to support transgender athletes?

More than 3,000 users shared the opinion today

More than 5,000 users have already voted today

More than 3,000 users shared the opinion today

Share an opinion“To be honest, the transition was always about being happy and comfortable in my own skin. And during that time in my life, I had to take the necessary steps to basically give up the sport that I loved. She went through big changes, she went through big family dynamic changes and everything,” she said.“…And I couldn’t be more grateful for this journey. It’s been a roller coaster, it’s been brutal, it’s been full of emotions, but I’m glad I’m on that stepping stone now.”