hope my father stands by me one day: Anaya Bangar
India, June 20 -- Anaya Bangar was on track to follow her father India cricketer Sanjay Bangar's footsteps and someday play for the Indian cricket team. But somewhere along that path came the call to live her truth as a trans woman.
Now, she has called on the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Board of Control for Cricket in India to revisit their policy that excludes transgender persons from competitive cricket across formats.
In a viral Instagram post, the 24-year-old shared a detailed scientific report to support her appeal. Anaya, who began transitioning in 2021, tells us, "It began as me wanting to play again, but the more I spoke up, the more I realised that my journey is tied to so many who feel invisible in Indian sport," she tells us, adding, "Walking back onto the field, this time as Anaya, won't just be about playing but reclaiming the right to belong, compete, and dream with dignity."
Support, she says, has been private but overwhelming: "Well-known cricketers from both the men's and women's sides have messaged me."
While she's won several battles on the pitch, there's one that she's still waiting on - her father's support. "My relationship with my father is complex, like many families navigating change," Anaya says of Sanjay, who is yet to publicly acknowledge her transition. "I hope that one day he will find a way to stand beside me," she ends....
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