South African cricket star Marizanne Kapp has strongly criticized Cricket Australia’s decision to provide transgender cricketer Anaya Bangar with a pathway to compete in women’s cricket, saying the move “should not be allowed.”Kapp, one of South Africa’s leading all-rounders, reacted to a social media post about Bangar’s potential pathway to the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), writing: “Absolutely ridiculous, this should NOT be allowed!”
Bangar, the daughter of former India cricketer and national batting coach Sanjay Bangar, has been cleared by Cricket Australia to immediately participate in women’s community and Premier Cricket across Australia.However, reports suggesting Bangar has already been cleared to play in the WBBL are not entirely accurate.
Under Cricket Australia’s policy, Bangar could become eligible to pursue elite women’s cricket, including the WBBL, from March 2027, provided she continues to meet the governing body’s eligibility requirements. This includes a blood test confirming her serum testosterone concentration remains below the required threshold.Bangar has also stressed that the decision does not guarantee her selection for a WBBL team.“Eligibility is not selection,” she said, explaining that Cricket Australia had provided a pathway rather than a place in a team and that she would still have to perform and earn selection.
Kapp is among the most prominent current women’s cricketers to publicly oppose the development. The issue also highlights a difference between domestic Australian and international cricket regulations. The International Cricket Council’s policy does not allow transgender women who have experienced male puberty to compete in international women’s cricket, while Cricket Australia operates its own policy for domestic competitions.
