‘Absolutely ridiculous’: Marizanne Kapp slams Cricket Australia over Anaya Bangar pathway

South Africa all-rounder Marizanne Kapp has strongly criticised Cricket Australia’s decision to provide transgender cricketer Anaya Bangar with a pathway back into competitive women’s cricket, saying such participation “should not be allowed”. Kapp, one of South Africa’s most experienced international cricketers, reacted after Bangar received clearance to compete in women’s community cricket in Australia under Cricket Australia’s policy governing transgender and gender-diverse players.

Sharing a report about the development on Instagram, Kapp described the decision as “absolutely ridiculous” and expressed her opposition to transgender women competing in women’s cricket.

The development has renewed discussion around transgender participation in women’s sport and the different eligibility rules that apply at domestic and international levels.

Clearance for community cricket

Bangar, the 25-year-old daughter of former India cricketer and coach Sanjay Bangar, has been permitted to participate in women’s community cricket competitions across Australian states and territories until March 2027.

Her current clearance does not amount to selection for a professional team. Rather, it provides her with an opportunity to return to competitive cricket and work towards potentially playing at a higher level.

Bangar has stressed that Cricket Australia has provided her with a pathway rather than a guaranteed place in a team, and that any eventual selection would have to be earned through performances.

She underwent gender-affirming surgery in March 2026 and has spoken publicly about her ambition to resume her cricket career.

Before her transition, Bangar played age-group cricket in Mumbai and shared the field with players including Sarfaraz Khan and Musheer Khan.

WBBL possibility from 2027

Under Cricket Australia’s framework, Bangar could potentially become eligible for elite-level women’s cricket, including the Women’s Big Bash League, from March 2027 if she continues to satisfy the governing body’s eligibility requirements.

Among the conditions is a requirement relating to serum testosterone concentration over a continuous 12-month period.

Even after meeting the eligibility criteria, Bangar would not automatically secure a place in the WBBL. She would still have to be recruited by a franchise through the competition’s applicable overseas-player contracting or draft process.

Bangar has said her objective is to build her cricket through competitive matches and demonstrate that she deserves opportunities on sporting merit.

Kapp, however, has questioned the principle behind Cricket Australia’s decision and made clear her opposition to the pathway.

ICC rules are different

Cricket Australia’s domestic rules differ significantly from the eligibility regulations governing international women’s cricket.

The International Cricket Council changed its policy in 2023 and barred transgender women who have undergone male puberty from competing in international women’s cricket, irrespective of whether they have subsequently undergone surgery or testosterone-suppression treatment.

The ICC said at the time that its policy was based on considerations relating to the integrity of the women’s game, safety, fairness and inclusion.

The international regulations mean that eligibility to participate in domestic women’s cricket under Cricket Australia’s framework does not translate into eligibility to represent a country in international women’s cricket.

Individual sporting bodies and domestic competitions can operate under different frameworks, resulting in different eligibility standards across levels of the sport.

Debate over women’s sport

The issue of transgender participation has become one of the most contested questions across international sport, with governing bodies attempting to balance inclusion with concerns surrounding competitive fairness and the protection of women’s categories.

Different sports have adopted different approaches, particularly regarding athletes who have experienced male puberty.

For Bangar, the immediate focus remains community cricket in Australia and establishing herself through performances. Her longer-term ambition of reaching the WBBL will depend on satisfying Cricket Australia’s eligibility requirements and subsequently earning selection.

Kapp’s intervention, however, has brought significantly greater attention to the case and underlined the continuing disagreement among athletes and sporting authorities over how transgender eligibility should be handled in elite women’s competition.