Indian transgender cricketer Anaya Bangar, daughter of former India all-rounder and coach Sanjay Bangar, has written a letter to the BCCI and the ICC, claiming a sensitive and scientific approach to the participation of transgender in women's cricket.

In this letter, she has cited an 8-week international research based on the effects of hormone therapy on her athletic performance. Through this letter, Anaya has expressed her desire to play for the women's cricket team.

Also Read: ICC ODI Rankings: Smriti Mandhana reclaims world No. 1 spot for the first time in six years

Anaya shared the letter on social media

Anaya Bangar shared the screenshot of the letter on her Instagram and wrote, "This letter comes from a place of love for the game and belief in fairness. I have reached out to BCCI and ICC, trusting that dialogue and science can work together."

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A post shared by Anaya Bangar (@anayabangar)

Through a powerful statement on social media, Anaya made her stance clear: she is not seeking sympathy or special treatment, but rather fairness rooted in medical science and transparency. Her decision to go public with her medical documentation and transition journey has sparked widespread dialogue on how sports organizations across the world are handling gender identity and athlete eligibility.

'This is not a political statement'

Anaya’s message was more than just personal, it was a call to action. She stated that restrictive policies based on outdated assumptions about transgender women have unfairly limited athletes like her from progressing in their careers, despite undergoing medical transition and receiving professional clearance.

“This is not a political statement,” Anaya wrote. “It is a scientifically-backed request to center data over fear, evidence over assumption, and transparency over speculation.”

She expressed deep frustration over how the system continues to marginalize transgender athletes by not updating rules in accordance with modern medical standards. Her plea aims to bring fairness into the regulatory framework, allowing athletes to compete based on real physiological data rather than rigid gender binaries.

What Anaya's asking from BCCI and ICC

In her statement, Anaya laid out a clear, respectful, and constructive roadmap for how cricket’s governing bodies can lead the way in creating inclusive yet competitive sports environments. She called upon the BCCI and ICC to take the following steps: 

Open a transparent, informed dialogue on the inclusion of transgender women in women’s cricket, grounded in up-to-date medical science, performance analysis, and ethical principles.

Also Read: ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 Full Schedule announced; India to face Pakistan on October 5

Consider sport-specific eligibility criteria, such as minimum hormone therapy durations, testosterone suppression timelines, haemoglobin thresholds, and physical performance benchmarks to ensure a level playing field.

Engage medical experts, legal advisors, athletes, and inclusion advocates in developing a clear policy that balances fairness with equal opportunity.

She emphasized that inclusion does not mean ignoring competitiveness, it means measuring it responsibly and transparently.

Her appeal stands as a reminder that sports must evolve with time. As debates on gender inclusion intensify globally across various sports, Anaya Bangar has positioned herself as a voice for a new era one that celebrates both fairness and inclusion, without compromise.

Hello and welcome to another live blog of Sportz Point.

Tonight, we have the Durand Cup semi-final between Diamond Harbour FC and Emami East Bengal FC at the iconic Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.

Diamond Harbour FC are coming from a great win against Jamshedpur FC away from home in the quarterfinal. Meanwhile, East Bengal have done an outstanding job by beating Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the quarter-final in a nail-biter Kolkata derby.

So, we have another Kolkata derby in our hands. This is Barnali Debnath, who will bring you all the updates of the match from the web desk. Stay tuned and enjoy the coverage.

Hello and welcome to Sportz Point's another LIVE blog. 

Tonight we have the Real Madrid vs Osasuna match in La Liga 2025/26 as the 36-time Spanish champions look for a perfect start to the season under new coach Xabi Alonso.

Real Madrid, last season's runners-up in the league, did not have a great season overall under Carlo Ancelotti and will look for a fresh start this season. 

Read Also: Mallorca vs FC Barcelona, La Liga 2025/26 Highlights: Barcelona win by 3-0 against 9-men Mallorca

In the meantime, Osasuna missed Champions League qualification despite finishing well last season. They will hope for a top-five finish this season, and doing well against a team like Real Madrid will do wonders for them.

This is Barnali Debnath, who will bring you all the LIVE updates of the match, including the build and post-match analysis. So, stay tuned and enjoy the coverage. 

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the Indian women's cricket team for the upcoming ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. This tournament will be held in October and a list of 15 players has been released for this on Tuesday.

#TeamIndia squad for ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025⬇️

Harmanpreet Kaur (Capt), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Richa Ghosh (WK), Kranti Gaud, Amanjot Kaur, Radha Yadav, Sree Charani,…

— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) August 19, 2025

Also Read: India Cricket team's performance in every ICC Women's World Cup

Harmanpreet to lead the team

The responsibility of team selection was of the National Selection Committee, which is headed by former Indian cricketer Ajit Agarkar. He has handed over the command of the team to experienced all-rounder Harmanpreet Kaur.

At the same time, left-handed opener Smriti Mandhana has been appointed as the vice-captain. Both the players have been the backbone of the Indian women's team for the last several years and they are expected to perform well in this tournament as well.

No Shafali Verma in the squad

Shafali Verma has been left out despite the head coach, Amol Majumdar, backing her after the England series. Shafali was part of the India A squad on the recently concluded Australia tour, but she couldn't impress much in six white-ball matches that included three One-Day games too. As for the squad, the Indian team has been picked on the expected lines with not much surprise in the offing.

Some new faces got the chance 

BCCI has selected a balanced team in which along with the experienced players, some new faces have also got a chance. In which players like Pratika Rawal, Sree Charani and Kranti Gaud will get a chance to prove themselves on a big stage like the World Cup for the first time. The selectors have made it clear that these young players have been selected on the basis of their domestic performance.

Strong bowling unit

The role of all-rounders will be important in the team. Players like Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana have the ability to contribute with both bat and ball. Renuka Singh and Arundhati Reddy will lead the fast bowling attack. Radha Yadav and Sneh Rana will strengthen the spin department.

Players to take part in a special training camp

According to the team management, the players will take part in a special training camp before the World Cup, in which special attention will be paid to fitness, strategy and match simulation. The goal is that the team should enter the field fully prepared and become a strong contender to win the title.

Also Read: ICC Women's World Cup Past Winners & Most Successful Teams

ICC Women’s World Cup 2025: India Squad

Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Yastika Bhatia, Renuka Singh Thakur, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Sree Charani, Radha Yadav, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud.

BCCI has announced the 15-member Indian team squad for Asia Cup 2025. Suryakumar Yadav and Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar came for the press conference to announce the team. The command of the Indian team has been given to Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill has been made the vice-captain. Meanwhile, some important questions were also answered during the Asia Cup team announcement press conference.

Here are five things from Asia Cup team announcement press conference.

Also Read: Records T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav can break in Asia Cup 2025

🚨 #TeamIndia's squad for the #AsiaCup 2025 🔽

Surya Kumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (WK), Harshit Rana,…

— BCCI (@BCCI) August 19, 2025

Why Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal not in the team?

Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal have not got a place in the Asia Cup squad. They set the stage on fire for their franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. However, the duo have yet to receive a T20I call-up. 

Regarding which Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar said, "With regards to Yashasvi Jaiswal, I mean it's just unfortunate again. Abhishek Sharma, what he's done over the last few months or a year or so that he's been with the team. Plus, that he can bowl a little bit gives us an option, if required, by the captain.

With regards to Shreyas, I mean, we can replace that. Again, no fault of his. Nor is it ours. It's just that he can pick 15 and, at the moment, he might have to wait for his chance."

Agarkar told why Gill got the chance

Shubman Gill last played a T20I in July 2024 against Sri Lanka. For the three-match series back then, the 25-year-old was made the vice-captain. Keeping the continuity in mind, the management decided to bring him back, considering the right-hander is available for the shortest format of the game.

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar said in a Asia Cup team announcement press conference, "We will take the call on the best balance for the team. Once we get to Dubai, will have a bit more clarity. More options available now, Shubman has been in great form anyway last few months. So has Sanju. so two good options, along with Abhishek."

Bumrah's workload management

Jasprit Bumrah played just three Tests in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England owing to workload management. Ever since the series came to an end, the pacer has received flak from some corners for picking and choosing. Amid all the drama, Bumrah made himself available for the Asia Cup.

Agarkar once again confirmed that Bumrah's workload management would continue despite the outside noise, as he spoke about how special the pacer truly is.

"I mean, I don't think there is any written plan at the moment. Obviously, there has been a nice break after the England series as well. The team management, the physios, or the people concerned are always in touch. It's not just now. Even before his injury, we have tried to look after him. Because we know how valuable he is. Clearly, we want him available for all the big games," said Agarkar.

Suryakumar Yadav on T20 WC plans

Suryakumar Yadav said on what lies ahead for the Indian team leading up to the T20 World Cup. "This is the first big tournament that we are playing after the T20 World Cup. We played three-four bilateral series but it's a good tournament to test ourselves. After this too there are many T20s. It starts with the Asia Cup,"

"The preparation is obviously...we had a little bit of idea after the last World Cup, which way we are going to go. But as you get closer, you know who your 16-17-18 are. You want to try and give them the best possible opportunity to be in the best shape going into the World Cup. So yeah, it starts now."

Also Read: Highest Run Scorer in Asia Cup History (ODI + T20)

End of the road for Samson?

Gill's return might well be the end of the road for Sanju Samson in India’s XI. As vice-captain, there is no way, Gill won't play. And when he does, he of course will open along with Abhishek Sharma. Tilak Varma won’t be moved from the No. 3 position, and neither will Surya or Hardik. So there’s your rough deal.

Asia Cup 2025: India Squad

Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (WK), Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh.

In 2025, some of the world’s top athletes are earning huge amounts of money through their sports, brand deals and businesses. These athletes come from football, basketball, golf and other popular games. Their earnings include salaries, match winnings and endorsements from big companies. Let’s take a look at the top 10 highest-paid athletes in the world and see how much they are earning.

Also Read: Women in Sports: Highest-paid women athletes in the world [2025]

10 Highest-Paid Athletes in the World

10. Kevin Durant | $101.4M

Kevin Durant’s Suns may not have made the playoffs, but his financial game stayed elite. His total earnings combine a $51.4 million salary with $50 million in off-court earnings through Boardroom Media and investments in Paris Saint-Germain.

He even has a soon-to-debut Netflix docuseries. His tequila brand, real estate moves, and a collaboration with Fanatics round out a sharp portfolio.

9. Shohei Ohtani | $102.5M

Though his Dodgers salary is deferred, Shohei Ohtani still walked away with $2.5 million in earnings plus postseason bonuses. But the reason he made it to this top-earners list is his headlining brand power.

Out of the total $102.5 million, $100 million came from endorsement deals across Japan and the U.S. That includes New Balance, Seiko, Beats by Dre, and a record-breaking Topps trading card sale.

8. Karim Benzema | $104M

The first footballer to enter the top 10, and for the 2022 Ballon d'Or winner, most of Karim Benzema's earnings have come from his hefty salary from his contract with Al-Ittihad, where he earns over $2 million a week, resulting in a $100 million annual salary. 

Sponsors like Adidas remain loyal, even as he embraces a quieter lifestyle far from the European spotlight. Rumors now swirl about a possible shift to Major League Soccer as the 2026 World Cup nears.

7. Juan Soto | $114M

Juan Soto shattered expectations after signing a jaw-dropping 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets, even by baseball’s high-spending standards. His on-field take hit $109 million. And thanks to the buzz he generated, the Mets’ ticket sales surged following his signing. 

At just 26, Juan’s popularity and endorsements by the likes of Call of Duty and top Dominican brands have made him baseball’s financial poster boy, earning $114 million this year.

6. LeBron James | $133.8M

LeBron James has amassed $133.8M, appearing in the sixth position. After more than two decades in the NBA spotlight, LeBron is still making history, not just on the court but also in his bank account.

While his Lakers stint earned him $48.8 million in salary, the larger story is off-court. His production company, SpringHill, is scaling up through a major merger, and he inked a deal to become the first athlete turned Ken doll.

5. Lionel Messi | $135M

Although he is the second-highest paid soccer player, Lionel Messi only ranks as the fifth-highest paid athlete. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner brought home $135 million.

To millions of people, Messi will forever be soccer’s GOAT. Naturally, his arrival in Major League Soccer wasn’t a mere player acquisition for Inter Miami but a transformative event for the league’s global standing. While his $60 million salary is a substantial figure, his endorsements with Adidas and Apple, alongside his own Mas+ beverage, earn him even more, around $75 million.

Also Read: 20 Highest-Paid Footballers in Saudi Pro League History

4. Dak Prescott | $137M

Dak Prescott, American professional football quarterback who plays for the Dallas Cowboys, earns $137 million this year. This quarterback-turned-financial-play-caller knows how to read a market as well as a defense. 

First, Prescott made history with a contract structure that paid him $127 million in salary and bonuses within 12 months. Next were endorsements with Jordan Brand and Lowe’s that added another $10 million to his name. He’s also building a gym empire in Texas via Crunch Fitness partnerships.

3. Tyson Fury | $146M

Boxer Tyson Fury claimed third place with $146 million. Despite losing his world heavyweight titles to Oleksandr Usyk in December, Fury's income has been boosted by partnerships promoting Maltese tourism and his Netflix reality show named “At Home With the Furys.”

2. Stephen Curry | $156M

Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry comes 2nd on the list of highest-paid athletes of the year, earning $156 million. Curry became the first NBA player to reach 4,000 career three-pointers in March this year. 

Of Curry's $156 million haul, $100 million comes from off-court dealings, including a major extension with Under Armour’s Curry Brand. He’s invested in everything from hydration startups to women’s basketball leagues. On the hardwood, he still drains threes while mentoring future stars at Davidson, where he now serves as an assistant GM.

Also Read: Most International Goals by Active Players (2025)

1. Cristiano Ronaldo | $275M

For the third year in a row, and the fifth time overall, Cristiano Ronaldo is the world’s highest-paid athlete. At age 40, the Portuguese soccer superstar is reaching new highs.

Over the past 12 months, counting both his playing salary at Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr and his off-field business endeavors, Ronaldo collected an estimated $275 million before taxes and agent fees - the third-best year by an active athlete ever measured by Forbes. On that all-time list, Ronaldo is surpassed only by boxer Floyd Mayweather, who earned $300 million in 2015 and $285 million in 2018.