Anaya Bangar, the daughter of former Indian cricketer and coach Sanjay Bangar, has made explosive revelations about her experiences in the cricketing world. 
Formerly known as Aryan Bangar, Anaya underwent hormone replacement therapy and gender-affirming surgery, and now lives in Manchester, United Kingdom.
In a candid interview with Lallantop, Anaya spoke about her early struggles with gender identity, the toxic masculinity she witnessed within cricket circles, and instances of harassment she faced from fellow cricketers.
Early Journey
&ldquo;I realized I was in the wrong gender around the age of eight or nine,&rdquo; Anaya recalled. &ldquo;I used to wear my mom&rsquo;s clothes and look in the mirror saying, &lsquo;I am a girl. I want to be a girl.&rsquo;&rdquo;
Having played age-group cricket and represented clubs like Islam Gymkhana and Hinckley Cricket Club in Leicestershire, Anaya followed in her father&rsquo;s footsteps, but her path was far from easy.
&ldquo;I played with some well-known cricketers like Musheer Khan, Sarfaraz Khan, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. But I had to keep my identity a secret because my dad is a public figure. The cricket world is filled with insecurity and toxic masculinity,&rdquo; she revealed.
Harassment Allegations
When asked about life after her transition, Anaya stated that while some individuals supported her, she also faced disturbing instances of harassment.
&ldquo;There were a few cricketers who randomly sent me nude pictures,&rdquo; she alleged. &ldquo;One person verbally abused me in front of others, yet later came to me asking for personal photos.&rdquo;
She further revealed, &ldquo;When I confided in a veteran cricketer about my transition, he invited me into his car, saying he wanted to sleep with me. That moment was shocking.&rdquo;
Reaction to ICC Policy
Anaya has also voiced strong disappointment over the International Cricket Council&rsquo;s (ICC) November 2023 decision to bar transgender athletes from participating in women&rsquo;s international cricket.
&ldquo;Inclusivity is incredibly important to us as a sport, but our priority was to protect the integrity of the international women&rsquo;s game and the safety of players,&rdquo; said ICC CEO Geoff Allardice at the time.
Responding to the policy, Anaya expressed her dismay through a detailed Instagram post, calling for greater empathy and understanding toward trans athletes.
&ldquo;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&rsquo;t long before I started dreaming about following in his footsteps. The passion, the discipline, and the dedication he showed to the sport were deeply inspiring to me. Cricket became my love, my ambition, my future. I&rsquo;ve spent my entire life honing my skills, hoping that one day, I would get the chance to represent my country, just like him. 
I never thought I&rsquo;d have to consider giving up the sport that has been my passion, my love and my escape. But here I am, facing a painful reality. As a trans woman on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) , my body has changed drastically. I&rsquo;ve been losing the muscle mass, strength, muscle memory and athletic abilities I once relied on. The game I&rsquo;ve loved for so long is slipping away from me,&rdquo; she wrote.&nbsp;
Who is Anaya Bangar?
Anaya Bangar is a cricketer and social media influencer. Once known as Aryan, the son of Sanjay Bangar, she transitioned into her new identity and now advocates for trans rights and inclusivity in sports. Anaya continues to engage with her growing audience on Instagram, sharing her story and challenging long-held norms in a male-dominated sport.
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Ex-cricketer Sanjay Bangar’s trans daughter Anaya talks about the dark side of the cricketing world

‘Cricketers Sent Nude Pics, Harassed Me’

Ex-cricketer Sanjay Bangar’s trans daughter Anaya talks about the dark side of the cricketing world

April 18, 2025 | 14:08 IST