‘Scientific evidence backing my case’: Anaya Bangar hits back at critics, claims no ‘unfair advantage’ | Off the field News

Transgender cricketer Anaya Bangar has responded to criticism over her participation in women’s cricket in Australia, saying she has scientific evidence to show that she does not have an unfair physical advantage.Bangar, the daughter of former India cricketer and ex-batting coach Sanjay Bangar, played age-group men’s cricket for Mumbai before beginning her gender transition in 2022. She underwent gender-affirming surgery in March 2026.The 25-year-old has been cleared by Cricket Australia to play women’s cricket at community level in Australia, subject to its policy requirements.Bangar told the UK-based Daily Mail that she wanted to use the criticism surrounding her eligibility to create more awareness about transgender athletes and the process they go through.“I’m willing to take that and basically try to turn that into education and awareness, which I intend to do through my case and many other people out there who have gone through the same process as me and don’t have any unfair advantage,” she said, as quoted by Daily Mail.“I think that’s where it all comes down to, and I hope people eventually understand.”As part of research at the Manchester University Institute of Sport, Bangar was assessed after more than a year of hormone replacement therapy and testosterone suppression, Daily Mail report said. Researchers looked at her lung capacity, power output and haemoglobin levels and compared the results with those of cisgender female athletes.Bangar said the measurements from the research fell within the range recorded among cisgender female athletes.“Whatever data that suggested, it all fell within that range,” Bangar said.She said her argument was based on the results of the research rather than her personal views.“I’m not talking from personal feelings or opinions. I have actual scientific evidence backing my case. My advocacy in this part is that not all trans women have an unfair advantage. It needs to be assessed on a case-by-case basis, similar to how Cricket Australia has approached my case, and I think that’s how it should be worldwide as well.”