Former Pakistan captain Sana Mir issued a clarification on Thursday after her comment about “Azad Kashmir” during commentary in the ongoing ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 sparked controversy online. Posting on X, Mir stated that she never intended to hurt anyone’s sentiments and was simply referring to official information.

 

The incident occurred during the Pakistan vs Bangladesh match in Colombo, when Mir mentioned Pakistan player Natalia Pervaiz’s hometown as Azad Kashmir. Mir explained, “My comment about a player’s hometown was only meant to highlight the challenges she has faced coming from a specific region and her inspiring journey.” She added that she had also referenced players from other regions as part of the commentary narrative and emphasized, “Please don’t politicise this. As commentators on the World Feed, our role is to focus on the sport, teams, and players, showcasing stories of determination and perseverance.”

 

To support her point, Mir shared a screenshot of Pervaiz’s profile on ESPNCricinfo, which originally listed her birthplace as “Bandala, Azad Jammu and Kashmir.” Following the controversy, ESPNCricinfo updated it to “Pakistan-administered Kashmir.” Mir expressed her frustration over the backlash, stating, “It’s unfortunate how things are being blown out of proportion and that people in sports are facing unnecessary pressure. It’s sad that this needs a public explanation.”

 

The controversy arose because Mir highlighted Azad Kashmir as one of the regions producing several women cricketers in Pakistan. She said during the match, “A lot of these players are new. Natalia comes from Kashmir… Azad Kashmir, but has played most of her cricket in Lahore.”