Veteran South Africa allrounder Marizanne Kapp has said that it would be absolutely ‘ridiculous’ for a transgender cricketer like Anaya Bangar to take part in the Women’s Big Bash League, adding that the entry of such players shouldn’t be allowed in women’s leagues.
Kapp reacted to the development on Instagram after Cricket Australia cleared Anaya, daughter of former India cricketer and coach Sanjay Bangar, to play women’s community and Premier Cricket across Australia.
Kapp reacted to a post that said that Anaya was cleared to play women’s Big Bash, although there has been no confirmation of the same.
“Absolutely ridiculous, this shouldn’t be allowed,” Kapp wrote on her Instagram story on Friday.
The comments come days after Anaya opened up about
Cricket Australia’s decision and her plans to return to competitive cricket, with a potential return to elite-level cricket targeted for March 2027.
Kapp is the first high-profile women’s player to voice her opposition to the decision. One of South Africa’s most accomplished cricketers, she has represented the national team across formats for more than a decade.
Anaya thanked Cricket Australia on Wednesday, saying that the governing body has a framework aimed at ‘balancing fairness, competitive integrity and inclusion in women’s sport’.
“My understanding is that Cricket Australia’s review considered a comprehensive body of information relating to my circumstances, including my medical history, surgical history, hormone and testosterone levels, my cricketing background and training footage as well and the scientific and athletic performance work undertaken with Manchester Metropolitan University’s Institute of Sport,” Anaya said.
Anaya had also appealed to BCCI for permission to participate in women’s cricket events but didn’t receive a response from the Indian board. The ICC banned transgender athletes from competing in women’s international cricket in 2023.
Anaya said that her latest examination indicates that she could maintain similar testosterone levels when she undergoes another test in March next year, paving the way for her return to elite women’s cricket.
