Sana Mir commentary controversy: Former Pakistan captain Sana Mir remained on the commentary panel during the much-anticipated India vs Pakistan clash in the Women’s World Cup 2025 at the R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, despite facing widespread criticism for her earlier on-air reference to “Azad Kashmir.”
The controversy began during Pakistan’s tournament opener against Bangladesh last Thursday. While describing batter Natalia Pervaiz’s background, Mir remarked:
“…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.”
The remark quickly drew backlash online, with several users accusing Mir of politicising the broadcast and calling on the ICC to drop her from the commentary team.
Sana Mir Responds to Criticism
Reacting to the storm, Mir took to X to issue a clarification. She said her comments were being blown out of proportion and stressed that her intention was purely to highlight a player’s cricketing journey, not politics.
“It’s unfortunate how things are being exaggerated. My comment was only meant to explain the challenges a player from a certain region in Pakistan faced and her remarkable journey. I’ve done the same for players from other regions as part of storytelling. Please don’t politicise it. On the World Feed, our focus is on sport, teams, and players. There is no malice in my heart or intention to hurt sentiments,” Mir wrote.
She also shared screenshots of her research sources on players’ hometowns, noting that those details had since been updated.
Also Read: Danish Kaneria on Indian Citizenship Rumors: ‘Pakistan is my Janmabhoomi, India my Matrubhumi’
Still on the Panel for India vs Pakistan
Despite the controversy, Mir continued in her role during the India-Pakistan Women’s World Cup league clash on Sunday. While she was not part of Star Sports’ India broadcast, screenshots from the Pakistan telecast showed Mir alongside former India captain Mithali Raj, discussing the match right after the toss.
In the game itself, Pakistan opted to bowl first after winning the toss. India made one change to their lineup, bringing in Renuka Thakur in place of Amanjot Kaur.
The issue has sparked fresh debate about the responsibilities of commentators and how their words are interpreted in politically sensitive contexts, especially during high-profile matches such as India vs Pakistan.
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