Anaya Bangar, the daughter of former India cricketer and ex-batting coach Sanjay Bangar, has come forward with serious allegations of harassment by several cricketers during her gender transition journey. (More Cricket News)
In a candid interview with Lallantop, Anaya revealed that she received unsolicited nude photos from fellow players and was subjected to verbal and emotional abuse within the cricketing ecosystem.
"There has been support and there have been some harassment as well... There have been a few cricketers who randomly sent me nude pictures of them," Anaya said, shedding light on the darker side of her personal transformation.
Formerly known as Aryan, she began her transition with Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and has since openly advocated for inclusivity in the sport.
Her experiences reflect not only the personal battles she fought but also the broader structural challenges within cricket. “Cricket world is filled with insecurity and toxic masculinity,” Anaya said, pointing out how she was forced to hide her true identity while playing alongside current India stars like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sarfaraz Khan, and Musheer Khan.
"The person used to give gaalis in front of everybody. The same person then used to come and sit beside me and ask for my photos,” she shared. Anaya also recounted a shocking encounter with a veteran cricketer.
“There was another instance, when I was in India, I told a puraane (veteran) cricketer about my situation. He told me, ‘Let's go in the car, I want to sleep with you.’”
Her revelations have come at a significant time for cricket, especially as conversations around inclusivity gain traction. The International Cricket Council (ICC) recently updated its rules barring transgender women from playing in women’s international and top-tier domestic cricket.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) followed suit, tightening eligibility regulations for women’s cricket in Tiers 1 and 2.
