"a few cricketers who randomly sent me nude pictures"
Anaya Bangar, the transgender daughter of former Indian cricketer and coach Sanjay Bangar, has claimed cricketers have sent her nude photos and harassed her.
In a recent interview, she opened up about facing harassment, exclusion, and deep-rooted gender biases after her transition.
Anaya, formerly known as Aryan, played age-group cricket and followed in her father’s footsteps for much of her early life.
She has represented the Islam Gymkhana in India and later joined Hinckley Cricket Club in Leicestershire.
Though her cricketing path began like many others, her personal journey was far more complex.
She revealed: “When I was eight or nine years old, I used to pick clothes from my mom’s cupboard and wear them.
“Then, I used to look into the mirror and say, ‘I am a girl. I want to be a girl’.”
She made her transition public in 2023, after undergoing hormone replacement therapy and gender reaffirming surgery.
The news received attention and support on social media but it also brought unwanted attention from people within the cricketing community.
Anaya said: “There has been support and there have been some harassment as well.”
When asked about the nature of the harassment, she revealed that some male cricketers sent her explicit photos.
She disclosed: “There have been a few cricketers who randomly sent me nude pictures of them.”
Anaya also described a disturbing interaction with a veteran cricketer.
“I told a senior player about my situation. He said, ‘Let’s go in the car. I want to sleep with you’.”
She mentioned another individual who hurled verbal abuse at her. That same person later approached her privately and asked for photos.
Anaya emphasised that such behaviour reflects a broader culture of toxic masculinity in cricket.
She stated:
“The cricket world is filled with insecurity and toxic masculinity.”
She had to hide her identity for a long time, especially due to her father’s public image.
Anaya currently resides in the United Kingdom, where she continues to speak out about her experiences.
In November 2023, the International Cricket Council announced a policy banning transgender athletes from participating in international women’s cricket.
They stated: “Inclusivity is incredibly important to us… but our priority was to protect the integrity of the international women’s game.”
Anaya Bangar expressed her disappointment through an Instagram post, calling the decision unfair and disheartening.
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