Colombo, October 3, 2025: Former Pakistan women’s cricket captain Sana Mir has defended herself after facing criticism from Indian fans over her on-air reference to a Pakistan player being from “Azad Kashmir” during Women’s World Cup commentary.
Mir, who is part of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) official commentary panel for the tournament, came under fire after she described batter Natalia Pervaiz as “coming from Kashmir, Azad Kashmir” during Pakistan’s group match against Bangladesh on Thursday.
The remark immediately sparked reactions on Indian social media, with fans tagging the ICC and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) while demanding her removal for allegedly “politicising the broadcast.” Indian outlets also noted that Mir initially said “Kashmir” before correcting herself to “Azad Kashmir.”
In response, Mir issued a statement on X (formerly Twitter), saying her words were being “blown out of proportion” and urging people not to politicise her commentary.
“It’s unfortunate how things are being blown out of proportion and people in sports are being subjected to unnecessary pressure. It is sad that this requires an explanation at public level,” she wrote.
Mir clarified that her intention was only to highlight the challenges faced by players from different regions of Pakistan. “It is part of the storytelling we do as commentators about where players come from. I did that today for two other players as well. Please don’t politicise it,” she added.
The former captain, who became the first Pakistani woman inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame earlier this year, also shared a screenshot from ESPNcricinfo showing Pervaiz’s hometown listed as “Azad Jammu and Kashmir.” She noted that the entry has since been updated to read “Pakistan-administered Kashmir.”
“As a commentator on the World Feed, we are meant to focus on the sport, teams, and players, highlighting inspiring stories of grit and perseverance. There is no malice in my heart or any intention to hurt sentiments,” Mir stressed.
The controversy comes amid heightened India-Pakistan tensions on the cricket field. Last month’s Asia Cup in the UAE saw Indian players refusing to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts during matches, and India declining to accept the trophy from Asian Cricket Council chairman and Pakistan Cricket Board chief Mohsin Naqvi. The men’s tournament was the first bilateral clash between the two sides since May’s military confrontation over the Pahalgam attack in Indian-occupied Kashmir.
