After calling a player from ‘Azad Kashmir,’ former Pakistan captain turned commentator Sana Mir is at the center of a political uproar during live comments on the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. The remark made during Pakistan’s game versus Bangladesh sparked rapid and strong responses, mostly from fans and officials in India. Therefore, it forced Mir to give an explanation amid increasing criticism.
Mir addressed all-arounder Natalia Pervaiz during the Women’s World Cup broadcast, saying, “Natalia, who comes from Kashmir, Azad Kashmir, plays in Lahore; she has to come to Lahore to play most of her cricket there.” She first used the word ‘Kashmir’, then added ‘Azad Kashmir.’ The use of ‘Azad Kashmir’, a politically charged remark in the India-Pakistan setting, sparked fury on social media channels and requests for action from groups including the ICC and the BCCI.
Sana Mir published a statement on X defending her word selection as criticism intensified. She said her remark was meant to illuminate the player’s background and path, hence part of her narrative as a commenter and not a political statement. Sana Mir also provided a screenshot from ESPNcricinfo showing Pervaiz’s profile listing her birthplace as ‘Azad Jammu and Kashmir,’ which she said shaped her comment. She complained the matter was being overhyped and emphasised there was no purpose to offend: “Please don’t politicise it.”
In cricket, the dispute reaches an especially sensitive point between India and Pakistan. The BCCI reconfirmed that India’s women’s team will continue with its ‘no handshake’ policy against Pakistan in the lead-up to their women’s World Cup meeting on October 5. This posture reflects the men’s Asia Cup winner events earlier in 2025.
Because of the increased sensitivity around political language and symbolism in sports, commentators and broadcasters during such important events have come under even closer attention. Even a single sentence spoken in a sporting setting may set off geopolitical reactions; therefore, Mir’s explanation helps to de-escalate tensions.
