'Hypocrisy Is Too Loud To Ignore': Anaya Bangar Criticises ECB For Removing Pride-Themed Stumps During ENG VS IND 1st Test

Anaya Bangar, daughter of former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar and a trans woman, has called out the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for their performative allyship and hypocrisy towards the transgender community. She highlighted the ECB's decision to showcase pride-themed stumps during the first three days of the India-England Test at Headingley, only to remove them on Day 4.

Anaya took to Instagram to post a video slamming the ECB for hypocrisy. She wrote, "These are the words from ECB’s Rainbow Laces campaign: 'Creating safe spaces for discussion. Demonstrating commitment to inclusivity. Fostering open conversations and involving LGBTQ+ supporters.'

But here’s the reality: On Day 2 of the India vs England Test Match, there were Pride flags on the stumps while at the same time, the UK Supreme Court rolled back trans women’s rights from the Equality Act. The ECB banned trans women from not just elite, but even professional cricket. So, who is this inclusivity really for? You can’t celebrate Pride while erasing trans women from the sport. This is not inclusion. It’s performative allyship. And the hypocrisy is too loud to ignore,"

Earlier this year, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) introduced a contentious regulation barring transgender women from participating in women’s and girls’ cricket at all levels. Citing the UK Supreme Court’s recent judgment and emphasizing the need to maintain fairness in competition, the ECB stated that only those assigned female at birth would be eligible to compete in female-only categories.

Anaya Bangar's letter to ICC & ECB

Couple of days back Anaya Bangar has written a letter to the ICC and BCCI about her research on hormone therapy on athletic performance. Taking to her personal Instagram handle, Anaya posted the screenshot of the letter with a caption," This letter comes from a place of love for the game and belief in fairness. I’ve reached out to BCCI and ICC, trusting that dialogue and science can walk together."

She further wrote, "I am releasing my report and story publicly not for sympathy, but for truth. Because inclusion doesn't mean ignoring fairness it means measuring it, transparently and responsibly.

I would deeply appreciate the opportunity to meet with you or a representative of the BCCI or ICC to present my findings, discuss possible policy pathways, and work towards a future where every athlete is evaluated based on real data not outdated perceptions."