Mumbai: Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar’s son, Aryan Bangar, has undergone gender affirmation surgery. Now, she identifies herself as Anaya Bangar. In a viral social media post, Anaya shared her journey of becoming a woman. “Losing strength but gaining happiness. Body changing, dysphoria easing… still a long way to go, but each step feels more like me,” wrote Anaya on her social media handle.
Twenty-three-year-old Anaya also underwent hormone replacement therapy. Anaya, who currently lives in England, had played cricket for local club Islam Gymkhana. In a post a few months ago, Anaya opened up about her passion for cricket. She announced that she was giving up cricket as “there are no proper regulations for transwomen in cricket”.

Anaya calls her father, Sanjay Bangar, who played 12 Tests and 15 one-day internationals for India, her biggest inspiration. “From a young age, cricket has always been a part of my life. Growing up, I watched my dad with awe as he represented and coached the country, and it wasn’t long before I started dreaming about following in his footsteps. The passion, discipline and dedication he showed to the sport were deeply inspiring to me. Cricket became my love, my ambition and my future. I’ve spent my entire life honing my skills, hoping to someday represent my country, just like him. I never thought I’d have to consider giving up the sport that has been my passion, love, and escape. But here I am, facing a painful reality. As a trans woman on hormone replacement therapy, my body has changed drastically. I’ve been losing the muscle mass, strength, memory, and athletic abilities I once relied on. The game I’ve loved so long is slipping away,’’ Anaya wrote in the viral post.

ECB prohibits transwomen from top-flight cricket
A few weeks ago, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced that from next year, transgender women will be prohibited from playing at the elite level of women’s domestic cricket. Under the new rule, players who have undergone male puberty will be ineligible to compete in the top two tiers of the women’s game, including The Hundred’s women’s competition.

However, transgender women will still be allowed to participate in tier three of the domestic structure, which consists of lower-level counties and recreational cricket. This follows the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision in November 2023 to bar transgender women who have experienced male puberty from playing in international women’s matches.

Why are transwomen banned in professional cricket?
The ICC said it bans transgender women – who have previously gone through the phase of male puberty – from competing in professional international cricketing events considering concerns on ‘fairness,’ ‘safety’ and physical advantage.’ The cricket’s apex body worries that trans women might have an unfair advantage over cisgender women from male puberty, which gives better muscle mass, bone density and cardiovascular capacity.

Doesn’t HRT mitigate male puberty effects?
While cricketers like Anaya explain that Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is resulting in her losing muscle mass, strength and more, the ICC does not believe that HRT fully mitigates the effects of male puberty. ICC claims its decision is based on medical evidence that suggests some people can still retain some physical advantages despite HRT. It also worries that such physical differences pose an injury risk in aspects like fast bowling and fielding. Similar rules are also present in rugby and athletics. Though critics say this excludes transgender women from sports platforms, ICC argues that it is following the policies for fairness.

What is gender affirmation surgery?
The Cleveland Clinic of the US defines gender affirmation surgery as “procedures that help people transition to their gender. They help their body better align with their gender identity. Gender-affirming options may include facial surgery, top surgery or bottom surgery”.
There are many surgical and non-surgical procedures and treatments that are done as part of the gender affirmation treatment. The world of sports has seen many eminent personalities undergo gender-affirmation surgeries.

US athletics great Bruce Jenner, who eventually transitioned to Caitlyn Jenner, is a well-known example. The Cleveland Clinic says that feminising hormone therapy or antiandrogen therapy, which transwomen undergo, can result in decreased muscle mass, increased body fat storage in hips, buttocks and face, and also result in weight gain, in addition to other effects.