00:04Okay, we're joined for a very special interaction with Anaya Bangar.
00:10Those of you who don't know her, she's a 25-year-old cricketer and is in the news recently because
00:16she's attempting to get back into cricket and play top-level women's cricket and has made a major breakthrough with
00:22Cricket Australia, allowing her to play community-level women's cricket.
00:25But her aim remains to play professional-level women's cricket. That is exactly what we're going to be talking about
00:32too, Anaya.
00:33Thanks so much, firstly, for speaking to us here at India today. I'd like to know your reaction because it's
00:39just been a couple of days since you've made that breakthrough.
00:42Cricket Australia, in an unprecedented step, has allowed you to play community cricket. When you heard the news, what was
00:49your first reaction?
00:51To be honest, it felt like there's hope yet again, like my life is back because that's what I've done
00:59for the longest time and that's where I'm the best at, which is cricket.
01:02And before transitioning, I knew that if I were to transition, I'd have to give up the sport because there
01:10weren't any proper rules or regulations based in India for me.
01:13And I had given up on that sport. And after years of transitioning, years of going through a major change,
01:22I was just happy to hear that Cricket Australia has given me that pathway and opportunity.
01:27And I can't wait to just be back on the field and be my best self as an I am.
01:34Okay. The one thing I know, and it was written about a lot in the media as well, that you
01:39knocked on the doors of the BCCI as well with a similar request, but that didn't go through.
01:45Could you tell us that time, what did you have to endure trying to get that permission and how did
01:50you deal with it?
01:52So I understood that there's lack of research and proper guidelines in BCCI while I was transitioning.
02:00And at the same time, ICC had banned us in international women's cricket as well.
02:05And during that time, I was in UK and I found out that Manchester University are doing tests on transgender
02:12athletes who have undergone testosterone suppression and hormone replacement therapy for a year.
02:17So after I completed one year of hormone replacement therapy, I went to the university for a 12-week testing
02:25program in which they checked my lung capacity, hemoglobin levels, my power output, and they gathered all that data and
02:34they compared it with cisgender female athletes.
02:37So all of my parameters fall within that range.
02:40So it's basically like I have, I just don't have my personal opinion, but there's scientific backing to it as
02:49well at the same time.
02:50And I thought that while I'm in India, why not try to approach BCCI and ICC stating that what the
02:58rules have been set by ICC, they need more scientific backing, scientific evidence to go further with.
03:05And I wrote to BCCI and I wrote to BCCI over a year ago through social media.
03:11I reached to them through mail and I also tried to talk to some people as well, but nothing came
03:18of it.
03:19I was just like, so with silence.
03:22And yeah, that's basically what had happened.
03:25So I did the same thing after I got my gender reassignment surgery.
03:31I found out that Cricket Australia already has guidelines and policies set up.
03:36So I reached out to them and they were very quick with their response.
03:40I got a report within a week and they asked me for my medical documents, my hormone levels, my testosterone
03:48levels, my surgery papers, my cricket footage.
03:52They assessed all of that by forming an expert panel team, including a lot of researchers, anti-doping officers and
03:59a lot of them.
04:00And they concluded that I fall, as long as I comply with the testosterone levels, I'll be eligible to play
04:08for WBBL, which is the Women's Big Bash League, March 2027 onwards.
04:13And until then, I'm allowed to play community cricket.
04:16Okay, that's a major breakthrough.
04:18And I'm going to get into the technicalities since considering I cover sports, I cover the Olympic Games.
04:22So, and I did speak to a few experts.
04:24I'm going to ask you questions on that as well.
04:26But before that, what I wanted to know from you, I went through social media, right?
04:30You were trending as soon as that decision came.
04:32There were people who were talking in support of you.
04:34There were people who were, you know, saying maybe this is not fair for women athletes.
04:38What would you like to tell those people that formed an opinion saying, no, it's not fair for women athletes?
04:45I mean, globally, transgender athletes are allowed to compete not in the women's section, but in the men's section of
04:51the Open Draw.
04:51So that's the kind of, you know, argument that they present.
04:56What would you like to tell them?
04:58Again, I understand the place where they come from.
05:00But at the end of it, there is lack of education and awareness surrounding this topic because this is so
05:06new.
05:06We've just been understanding and accepting trans identities and the LGBT community as well as the same time.
05:15So I would say like my stand on advocacy on this part is that there needs to be case by
05:20case basis similar to how Cricket Australia has done.
05:23And again, like they've looked at all my reports.
05:28It's all scientific merit based.
05:31It's not based on personal feelings or opinions.
05:35OK, so now I'll get into specific.
05:38As you say, you know, it has to be based on scientific data.
05:41I was in Paris.
05:41I covered the Paris Olympics.
05:43And one of the biggest stories we covered was Iman Khalif.
05:45I don't know if you knew about that particular case.
05:48It created a lot of, you know, controversy at the time.
05:51And I think what they concluded at that time, if you remember now, the rules have been put in place
05:57and Iman now cannot participate.
05:58So I get your point about, OK, let's do the testing of testosterone level.
06:03So if it's within the parameters, you'll be allowed to participate as a woman.
06:07But the counter argument is that you have to also see the genetic disposition of the athlete, right?
06:14So you've gone through a sex affirmation surgery.
06:18But let's say when you hit puberty, you hit puberty as a man.
06:22So it still gives you some sort of advantage that a male athlete would have over a female athlete.
06:27And that's why they took that stance versus Iman Khalif.
06:30Don't you think that then argument can be put forward in your particular case and in the sport of cricket?
06:36First of all, I think Iman Khalif was accused of being a trans woman.
06:40I don't think she's a trans woman.
06:43And talking about the secondary aspect from the male puberty part, I like I'm saying that all of those things
06:51are very subjective that you could say,
06:53because there are some women out there who have better hand grip strength than some of the men out there.
06:58And the main factor between male puberty and female puberty is testosterone and the advantages that it has.
07:06I've basically suppressed my testosterone for almost three years now.
07:10And that could lead to major muscle loss, bone mineral density as well at the same time.
07:15So again, like I'm not talking from personal opinion.
07:19It's already what's been out there.
07:21And again, after going through all this as well, I advocate for case by case basis, because not all trans
07:28women have unfair advantage.
07:30Okay, fair point.
07:32I just want to know personally from you, those of you who don't know, she and I at one point
07:39in her life also played age group cricket in Mumbai.
07:42I was a very good cricketer.
07:43Now it's a fresh start for you.
07:45So this sex affirmation surgery that you went through, I want to know, how has life changed for you as
07:51a person?
07:52Are you comfortable in your skin?
07:53I mean, that's the point that I'm trying to get to.
07:56Definitely.
07:56I think transitioning was a mode of survival for me for the cause for the longest time I wasn't happy
08:03and comfortable in my own skin.
08:05And I had to take the necessary steps throughout these years just to be where I am today.
08:10Like I, I feel like my life has changed in a very good way.
08:15Like I feel like myself finally, I don't feel like I have to put up a front or act in
08:20a certain way just to be accepted by society.
08:23I am myself and this is me.
08:26This is the real me.
08:27And that's an I am.
08:28Okay.
08:29Can you dwell a bit more on that journey, that tough journey, people who supported you, people who questioned you,
08:35which were the lowest point, the toughest point that you had in that journey?
08:39Now you, now you, I see a very confident woman in front of me, right?
08:43It may not have been that.
08:44You would have had self-doubt.
08:45Could you throw some light on that?
08:47Our viewers would love to know.
08:49Yeah, this journey was very tough.
08:52I had to deal with a lot of backlash, not just from the public, but within family as well.
08:58Well, I got the bare minimum support, but like I didn't feel fully supported as well during the whole journey.
09:10There was a certain period of time where I was living in dressing rooms in UK just to survive and
09:16like fend for myself during that time.
09:20And I was, I was in that state for like five months.
09:24Then eventually I decided to come on social media to support my, myself and my surgeries.
09:31So I did that.
09:32I got some brand deals.
09:33I got my first few surgeries done along with whatever goes with gender affirming procedures as well during that time.
09:42And it's, it's been a crazy ride, to be honest, like it's been isolating.
09:46It's been brutal, but throughout all this, solitude has helped me a lot through this.
09:52And that's what has made me so confident and strong, which I feel.
09:57Okay.
09:57I hope your worst days are behind you.
10:00Some bright days ahead.
10:01Finally, before I let you go, I want to know what your dreams are, cricketing dreams in particular.
10:06Where does an IRC yourself in two years from now?
10:10Well, I just hope BCI looks into it and creates policies which are inclusive, fair and dignified towards women's sport.
10:20And I hope to win the World Cup for India one day.
10:23And I want to do that.
10:25Like, I want to win something for the country.
10:28And that's my dream.
10:30Okay.
10:31We're wishing you all the very best in achieving all your dreams.
10:34And, you know, one can only admire the kind of fight that you've gone through.
10:39And you continue to chase your dreams.
10:41So, all the best for that, Naya.
10:42And thanks so much for taking our time and speaking to us here on India today.
10:46Thank you so much.
