Sana Mir’s ‘Azad Kashmir’ Remark Ignites Cricket World Cup Controversy

The Women`s ODI World Cup 2025 match between Pakistan and Bangladesh recently ignited a significant controversy. During her commentary, former Pakistan captain Sana Mir referred to batter Natalia Pervaiz as being from `Kashmir` before promptly correcting herself to `Azad Kashmir`. This politically charged comment by Mir, a respected figure and former leader of the Pakistan team, quickly sparked widespread outrage across social media platforms.

While the International Cricket Council (ICC) has yet to issue a formal statement regarding the incident, Sana Mir proactively addressed the matter by publishing a detailed clarification on her social media channels.

During the match commentary, Mir had stated: “…captaining a very young side. Yes, they have won the qualifiers, but a lot of these players are new. Natalia who comes from Kashmir, Azad Kashmir, plays in Lahore a lot of cricket. She has to come to Lahore to play most of her cricket there.“

In a comprehensive post, Sana Mir clarified that her sole intention was to highlight the challenges Natalia Pervaiz has overcome, given her regional background. The former Pakistan women`s team captain implored the public not to “politicize” her comment, emphasizing that it was made without any malicious intent or desire to offend anyone.

“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 a public level. My comment about a Pakistan player`s hometown was only meant to highlight the challenges she faced in coming from a certain region in Pakistan and her incredible journey,” she explained.

Mir further elaborated on her role as a commentator, stating:

“It is part of the storytelling we do as commentators, as to where the players come from. I did that today for two other players coming from other regions, too. Please don`t politicize it. 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.“

To support her explanation regarding player research, the 39-year-old also included a screenshot of Natalia Pervaiz`s profile, illustrating her diligent preparation for commentary duties.

“I am also attaching the screenshot of where I research most of my players from, whether from Pakistan or any other country. I realise that they have changed it by now, but this is what I was referring to,” she concluded.