Colombo, October 3(HS): The ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 witnessed controversy when former Pakistan captain and commentator Sana Mir referred to Pakistan player Natalia Pervaiz as being from “Azad Kashmir” during the match against Bangladesh. Mir initially said “Kashmir” before correcting herself to “Azad Kashmir” while highlighting the batter’s background and the challenges she faced coming from that region to play cricket in Lahore.

The remark quickly drew widespread backlash on social media, with Indian fans accusing Mir of politicising the broadcast and demanding action against her.

Many tagged the ICC and BCCI, expressing displeasure over the use of “Azad Kashmir,” a term disputed in the India-Pakistan context.

In response, Sana Mir posted a clarification on social media stating her comments were taken out of context. She explained that her intention was only to showcase the player’s inspiring journey from a difficult region within Pakistan and that it was part of the storytelling commentators do to highlight players’ backgrounds and struggles.

Mir emphasized there was no malice or political agenda in her words and urged people not to politicise sports commentary.

The controversy unfolded as Bangladesh dominated Pakistan in the match, winning by seven wickets. Despite the distraction off-field, Mir stood by her remarks, noting her research was based on publicly available cricket sources that at one time listed the player’s birthplace as “Azad Kashmir.”

This incident adds to the continuing sensitivities surrounding India-Pakistan relations portrayed on international sports platforms. Sana Mir’s commentary has reignited discussions about neutrality and political references in cricket broadcasts during major tournaments.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar