Sanjay Bangar's son undergoes hormone replacement surgery, video goes viral

Former India cricketer Sanjay Bangar's son Aryan, who also plays cricket, has taken the internet by storm with his latest revelation. Bangar's son recently underwent hormonal replacement surgery and has spilled the beans on identifying as a transperson. 10 months following the surgery, the cricketer changed name from Aryan to Anaya, and shared an Instagram reel, showing the transformation over the years.

"Chasing my dream of playing cricket professionally has been a journey filled with sacrifices, resilience, and unwavering dedication. From early mornings on the field to facing the doubts and judgments of others, every step has demanded strength," captioned the Instagram post.

"But beyond the game, I had another journey. A path of self-discovery and lot of challenges faced. Embracing my true self meant making hard choices, letting go of the comfort of fitting in, and standing up for who I am, even when it wasn’t easy," it read further

"Today, I’m proud to be a part of the sport I love at any level or category, not only as an athlete but as my authentic self. The road hasn’t been easy, but finding my true self has been the greatest victory of all," the post caption ended.

Check Anaya's Instagram post here:

Anaya calls for inclusivity in cricket

Anaya had posted in the past claiming to be in absolute disbelief of the system, and the laws of cricket that do not allow a transperson's participation in women's international cricket.

"We need policies that don't make us choose between our identity and our passions. Trans women deserve the right to compete, play, and thrive," a part of the post read.

What do ICC laws say about trans athletes' participation in cricket?

According to a decision made by International Cricket Council (ICC) in the regard, transgender athletes are not allowed to take part in women's international cricket. The decision was made back in November 2023, and the ICC CEO Geoff Allardice had cited integrity among major factors that forced the implementation of the rule.

"Inclusivity is incredibly important to us as a sport, but our priority was to protect the integrity of the international women's game and the safety of players," Allardice was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.