Former Pakistani cricket captain Sana Mir has publicly responded to criticism from Indian social media users and commentators regarding her use of the term “Azad Kashmir” during a live broadcast. The incident occurred while Mir was commentating on Pakistan’s match against Bangladesh in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. While speaking about Pakistani all-rounder Natalia Pervaiz’s background, Mir mentioned “Kashmir” before correcting herself to “Azad Kashmir,” a reference that ignited a swift online backlash.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Mir expressed disappointment that her remarks were being politicized. She clarified that her comment was never intended as a political point but was part of her role as a storyteller to highlight the personal journeys and hardships overcome by players. “There is no malice in my heart or any intention to hurt sentiments,” Mir wrote, emphasizing that her focus was solely on the sport and the athletes’ inspiring stories of perseverance.
To substantiate her point, Mir shared evidence that her reference was based on publicly available information. She posted a screenshot from the official ESPNcricinfo website which originally listed Natalia Pervaiz’s place of birth as “Bandala, Azad Jammu and Kashmir.” Mir noted that this was her source, though the profile has since been updated, and asserted that she was subjected to “unnecessary pressure” for simply stating a biographical fact.
This controversy highlights the ongoing and deep-seated political tensions between Pakistan and India that continue to impact the world of cricket. The incident comes in the wake of other politically-charged moments, such as the Indian men’s team refusing handshakes with Pakistani players during the Asia Cup. Furthermore, the Pakistan women’s team is playing all its World Cup matches in Sri Lanka due to the strained relations between the two cricket boards, demonstrating how geopolitics remains inextricably linked with the sport.
