Anaya Bangar, daughter of former Indian cricketer and coach Sanjay Bangar, has recently come forward with serious allegations of harassment within the cricketing community. In a candid interview with Lallantop, Anaya, who transitioned from Aryan to Anaya after undergoing hormone replacement therapy and gender-affirming surgery, shared her experiences of unsolicited explicit messages and inappropriate behavior from fellow cricketers .
Anaya revealed that after her transition, several cricketers sent her unsolicited nude photographs and made sexually explicit comments. She recounted instances where senior players verbally abused her in front of teammates and later approached her with inappropriate requests . In one disturbing incident, a veteran cricketer allegedly invited her into his car, expressing a desire to sleep with her after she confided in him about her gender identity .
Having played age-group cricket alongside notable players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sarfaraz Khan, and Musheer Khan, Anaya highlighted the challenges she faced in a sport she described as being filled with “insecurity and toxic masculinity.” She emphasized the emotional toll of concealing her true identity due to her father’s prominence in the cricketing world .
Anaya’s revelations have sparked discussions about the treatment of transgender individuals in sports and the need for more inclusive and respectful environments. Her courage in speaking out sheds light on the systemic issues within the cricketing community and underscores the importance of addressing harassment and promoting diversity in sports.
